Leaving Haslemere BR Station, I took a brief diversion into the town for supplies, but put off by the traffic headed north on the Greensand Way (accessed straight off High Street). This takes you via a quite back alley to the railway crossing on Church Lane. Keeping on the road, instead of following the Greensand Way, and after 10-15 min walk you eventually come to some woods at Inval Hill. Here I disturbed a deer, which hurled off at speed into the woods lining Bunch Lane. Following the lane for a short period, I turned off and went past the last houses before veering right into wild woods at Coombswell Copse.
After a few miles you come to a wood clearing project aimed at increasing copse woodland for wildlife.
Turning left here you start accent to Gibbets Hill. To be honest i found the view from the top a bit underwhelming, but the Celtic Cross and reading about the hills grisly history made up for this.
After lunch on the hill I joined the Greensand Way heading north parallel to the A3 Portsmouth Road. You have to cross this road at some point, I found the best point was at Highcombe Farm (the turning marked for the Youth Hostel) - but can see it being a bit hairy for some people. After crossing you are still fairly close to the road but after 10 minutes the path takes you away from it and your attention is taken by the views west, over the Devil's Punch Bowl / Hindhead Common. Climb the hill for the best views.
The walk now is a loop around the bowl, there is quite a few trails but as the lip of the bowl is always visible it would be hard to get lost - even for me. The final climb up to the car park and picnic area was hard going. Crossing back over the A3 Portsmouth Road head South across the common.
For me this offered the best views of day.
If you can find it join the Greensand Way back into Haslemere, or like me just keep heading South until hitting the main road that goes east-west and follow east back to Haslemere BR Station.
It was great getting back out walking again - the quality of country air being so easily forgotten over the winter confined to the suburbs of London.
Click here for a Google Map of walk...
Cheers All!
P.S.
MORE SURREY WALKS AND RAMBLING HERE