Saturday 15th
December 2007
Betchworth - Gomshall via Box Hill
We pocketed our passports and crossed the county border by train into
neighbouring Surrey for a winter reconnaissance of the
North Downs
Way. This long-distance
footpath goes parallel to the South Downs way for 153 miles from Dover in Kent
to Farnham in Surrey. The 10 mile stretch we did today was well signposted and
maintained with steps on some of the steeper parts. The majority of the walk was
through woods with most of the trees appearing to be beech and yew. The
weather today was quite cold and we had a bit of snow up on Box Hill, but the walking was strenuous
enough to keep us warm and toasty all day.
Lots of roving tit flocks around, as well as Treecreeper and Nuthatch. We also
spotted a single Bullfinch, several Kestrels as well as a couple of Green
Woodpeckers. As the sun set we could hear Tawny owls around us, so we sat and
waited for one to appear. Nothing happened and we started to get cold so we
headed for Gomshall station. Just before leaving the Downs at Abinger Hammer
though, we got to see a short view of a Tawny as it flew off from its perch on
an old dead tree.
The remains of Brockham Lime kiln at the start of the
walk
Much of the path was like this. Very leafy Surrey.
Steep steps down through the yews
Denbie's huge vineyard near Dorking
A view of distant Leith Hill from White Down.
To cross the River Mole at Westhumble we had to go over the
stepping stones. Great fun!
Some wartime graffiti on an old beech tree
Ranmore church is spectacular but a bit over the top
for such a small, quiet village