Puttenham to Guildford

Puttenham village itself is only served by buses on Tuesdays and Fridays although there is an hourly bus service (#65) between Guildford and Farnham which goes along the A31, about half a kilometre north of the village. There is a bus stop at the Hog’s Mill Café, in a lay-by on this very busy road and that’s where we started this stage, having taken the train from Clapham Junction to Guildford (30 mins on a fast one). From the café a poorly defined path leads down through woodland and meets up with another path going east. This leaves the wood at the edge of a field and we carried on along eastwards along the field boundary to meet a track going downhill through trees. This becomes a metalled road and passes a farm and then a school before arriving at the main street in Puttenham, right by the Good Intent pub. Turn left here and follow the road past the church until a T-junction is reached. Cross this road and go right along the pavement for about 150m to take a paved track to the left. Soon this is passing through Puttenham Golf Course and a few isolated houses. Finally the paved track turns sharp right but the North Downs Way continues on a sandy path ahead. Through the wood the path gets more and more sandy underfoot which turns out to be quite tiring, appearing to use different muscles from the ones for walking on mud. On breaks in the trees head-high bracken filled all the gaps and crowded in on the path. Privet bushes, in full flower, gave off overpowering wafts of scent. We spotted orchids (common spotted). While still in the next wood you become aware of increasing traffic noise as you approach the A3. The path goes under the dual carriageway and immediately after is below a link road with two large wooden crosses mounted on it. At a junction with another busy road cross over but do not take the opposite track. Instead go left along the road a short way then take a right-going fork path heading past the busy Watts Gallery complex (with tea shop). George Watts was apparently a very famous Victorian landscape and portrait painter as well as turning his hand to sculpture. No, I admitwe didn't visit the gallery. After a short stretch in woods again the path comes out into open country with more high bracken stands. Through the next wood it heads down hill in a deep sunk sandy lane. Emerging from West Warren the path follows the north edge of the next wood (East Warren) giving clear views of the Hog’s Back ridge. On meeting a quiet road turn left and then right shortly after. From here the path is paved all the way as it approaches the outskirts of Guildford. It joins a minor road running alongside the grounds of the Guildford Law College (now the University of Law). At a T-junction facing a pub turn right, cross the road and go left down Ferry Lane. After crossing the railway line the path plunges downhill past a tiny grotto and quaint stone bridge to reach the banks of the River Wey. This river has meandered from Farnham through Godalming to reach this point, mainly following the Greensand geology. The flow is around seven times greater than at Farnham where we last saw it. The North Downs Way goes right from here to cross the river on a footbridge but we went left towards the centre of Guildford. This peaceful section of the river was full of young people concentrating on rowing training. Follow the river bank then cross the river on a bridge over a gushing weir. Up to the right you can see high chalk cliffs topped by Guildford Castle. After another weir and another bridge you arrive at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, partly in an old Mill House which also contains a small hydroelectric generator pumping renewable electricity into the Guildford grid. Follow Millbrook to a large roundabout where the subway below it links with the railway station.