THE HASLEMERE HOOP

Leg 6 - Hindhead to Grayswood (3.65 km)

(sp)signpost     (wm)waymark     (wms)  waymarks

 

Leave Devil's Punchbowl Hotel car park and turn right continuing ahead on old A3 road passing NT car park for Devil's Punchbowl and cafe on L. [To visit Devil's Punchbowl  Turn L and cross car park, passing information board on R.  Walks leaflet available from café.]

Continue ahead onto old A3 'Quiet Lane' (E) and follow grassed lane L, parallel with paved path, until reaching further information board.  Turn R and L onto paved footpath (wms).  In about 300m by bench on L, take R fork onto rough vehicle track.

[To visit Sailor's Stone and Gibbet Hill  Don't take R fork and continue ahead on paved path (wms).  Sailor's Stone 100m on L; Gibbet Hill about 300m on R.]

Continue ahead on rough vehicle track and, at often muddy multi-way junction, pass ahead through gated barrier onto bridleway (wm).  Path descends steeply to another multi-way junction (wm).  Ignore sharp R footpath, but bear second R (SE), initially uphill and follow bridleway, shortly ignoring L turn.  Descend on sunken lane and follow ridge (wms), generally E and ignoring all turn-offs, to signboard and stone base of Temple of the Four Winds viewpoint.

Continue ahead (SE) to apparent T-junction with R and L crossing path descending N and S.  Continue straight ahead here (SE) on bridleway (wm), descending very steeply for about 150m through Hurthill Copse.  At foot of hill, bear R on bridleway (wm), ignoring turn-offs, In about 300m, continue ahead on track through gate into Halcyon House farm.  Ignore bridleway on R and pass house and out-buildings on R.  Shortly after leaving farm, passing through gate, turn L onto rubble-filled bridleway (wm), descending past gate and winding L and R through Keffold's Copse.  Ignore all turn-offs, descending alongside brook onto narrow bridleway between high hedges. 

{NB The brook seems to have diverted from its channel onto the path here and the way ahead can become very muddy.  An alternative footpath is now used by walkers through the woods to the L and parallel with the bridleway.  The footpath eventually emerges back onto the L bank of the bridleway and descends back onto the path where the brook reverts to its original channel.}

Continue ahead on bridleway, descending gently and ignoring field gates on L and R.  About 100m before farm buildings (just visible over hedge on L), turn R through metal kissing gate (wm almost concealed by hedge.  If you reach farm building you have gone too far!) and cross pasture (SE) on footpath through further metal kissing gate opposite.  Fork L through copse at 4-way path junction along fence on L and descend at end of fence to old metal kissing gate and railway gate. 

Go through railway gate and follow path up R, taking steps up to pedestrian railway crossing.  Look and listen and cross quickly, if way clear, to steps down.  Turn L and continue ahead down path and through railway gate.  Ignoring path L, turn R and descend footpath, crossing river bridge and climbing steps, to ascend gravelled path between hedges and private gardens, emerging eventually onto private metalled drive.  Turn L and follow drive to main Grayswood Road (A286) (sp) at Grayswood.  The Wheatsheaf Pub and car park is 50m L on Grayswood Road.

Links

Devil’s Punch Bowl  (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hindhead-commons-and-the-devils-punch-bowl

Sailor’s Stone and Gibbet Hill (  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hindhead-commons-and-the-devils-punch-bowl/features/murder-on-the-highway-at-hindhead-commons )
 

Temple of the Four Winds  (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hindhead-commons-and-the-devils-punch-bowl/features/temple-of-the-four-winds-at-hindhead-commons)

Wheatsheaf Pub  (https://www.thewheatsheafgrayswood.co.uk/)