The Surrey Heaths - 10 Leisure Walks

by: Mike Cope
Surrey supports a significant area of lowland heath - around 3000 hectares (or 13% of the UK total), and about 60% is owned by the military. The Surrey Heaths are largely confined to two main National Character Areas: The Wealden Greensand in the south west and centre of the county and the Thames Basin Heaths in the north west.
The Wealden Greensand heaths are predominantly dry sites, lying on the Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe Beds of the Lower Greensand. The notable exception being Thursley National Nature Reserve, which supports an internationally important mire. The bulk of the surviving Wealden Greensand heaths are centred on or close to Hindhead, Thursley and Frensham Commons, with Blackheath an important outlier to the north east. The Thames Basin Heaths are generally low-lying land, supporting humid and wet heathland. Three quarters of the heathland in the Thames Basin is to be found on Ash, Pirbright and Chobham Commons. The first two are on MOD land, and access restrictions apply when red flags are flying.

Of the ten selected walks in this book, five of the routes are on the Wealden Greensand heaths, in the south-west of the county, and the remaining five are largely confined to the Thames Basin Heaths in the north-west. They range from 5 to 10 miles and suit the needs of families, groups of friends or individuals looking for a gentle stroll or a longer walk, and reflect the many varied facets of the area - its people, its history, and its landscape and will help first time visitors to experience some of the great scenery the area has to offer. Many of the walks feature a pub along the route. Packed with colour, the book is an ideal companion and reminder of a visit to the Surrey Heaths.

The walk locations are:
Chobham Common - 5.5 miles
Lightwater and Windlesham - 7 miles
Woking and Horsell Common - 6.25 miles
Brookwood and Pirbright - 9.75 miles
Wisley and Ockham Common - 5.25 miles
Puttenham Common - 4.75 miles
Blackheath - 5.75 miles
Frensham Common - 5.5 miles
Thursley and Ockley Common - 5.25 miles
Hindhead Common - 5.5 miles

ISBN 9780857100061 Pages 64 (2010) 110mm x 155mm