Plenty Of Places to Visit As Guildford Walkfest Gets Under Way

Published on: 6 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 6 Sep, 2019

This year’s Guildford’s walking festival was launched on Sunday September 1, by the Mayor of Guildford, Richard Billington, along with representatives from local walking groups taking part.

Walk leaders and organisers of the month long Guildford Walkfest with the Mayor of Guildford, Richard Billington, at its launch on Sunday, September 1.

They included Walking for Health, the Town Guides, Ramblers groups and the Surrey Hills Society.

The launch was held at the Spectrum leisure centre at Stoke Park, followed by a short walk around the area.

The chairman of Guildford Walkfest, now in its twelfth year, Chris Howard, said “I have lived and worked in the Guildford area nearly all my life and yet through Walkfest I can still discover new amazing places to see and things to do. I also love all the nice people I meet.”

The walking festival has got off to a good start with fine weather and dry paths. It will run throughout September with a short- and medium-length walk being held every day and with the option of some longer walks throughout the month as well.

The walks are all free and open to all.

Some of the walks this coming week include:

Wednesday, September 11: Around Farley Green: A circular, nearly flat walk in woodland, heath and open countryside, led by Guildford Group of the Ramblers Association. Start at 10.15am and will finish at about 1pm. Meet at Farley Heath car park (Hurtwood car park No 8, the car park near the Roman temple ruins on Farley Heath Road) 0.5 miles south-west of Farley Green on the road to Shamley Green. OS grid reference for the start is TQ051448. Optional pub lunch after the walk. Length of walk: 5.5 miles.

Thursday, September 12: Explore beautiful Shere, the Tillingbourne valley and the surrounding woodland on this easy walk, led by Guildford Walking For Health. Time: 9.45am for a 10am start, 11am finish. Meet at Shere Recreation Ground car park, Upper Street, GU5 9JF. Optional refreshments afterwards. Length of walk: 60 minutes.

Saturday, September 14: Industrial history of the Wey and Tillingbourne rivers, led by the Surrey Hills Society. A moderate two-hour walk along the River Wey to Shalford Mill. Time: 11am. Meet from 10.30am outside the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, GU1 3UX, finish at about 1pm. Length: 4 miles.

Sunday, September 15: World War II walk hosted by the National Trust’s River Wey and Godalming Navigations. Led by Stoke lengthsman Richard Cant tracing the impact of the Second World War on the River Wey Navigations. The walk will take in the river and surrounding area, looking at what evidence of those dark days still exists before finishing at Dapdune Wharf at 5pm. National Trust volunteer Malcolm Watson and local historian and writer David Rose will also be on the walk adding further wartime details and stories.
Starts at 2pm, finishes at 5pm. Meet at Dapdune Wharf, Wharf Road, Guildford GU1 4RR. Length: 5 miles

Key sponsors for the festival include, Guildford Borough Council, Bevan Wilson Physio & Sports Injury Clinics, Experience Guildford and Surrey Hills Society.

A free booklet containing all the walks can be picked up from Guildford’s Tourist Information Centre in Guildford House in the High Street, or viewed online at www.guildfordwalkfest.co.uk