Hambledon Walks
This rural Surrey village is surrounded by fields and woods with good walking trails to try. This circular walk takes you to some of the scenic highlights of the area. You'll visit Hydon's Ball and Hydon Heath before heading to the beautiful Winkworth Arboretum. The route also uses a section of the epic Greensand Way which runs right through the village.
Start the walk in the village and follow the Greensand Way north east before picking up another public footpath at Court Farm. The path heads up to Fourteen Acre Copse before climbing to Hydon's Ball. The summit stands at 179 m (587 ft) and includes a stone seat memorial to Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust. You can stop here and enjoy the wonderful views towards the South Downs.
The trail then descends north east across Hydon Heath to Busbridge Woods and Munstead Farm before coming to Winkworth Arboretum. The popular site includes good surfaced footpaths, landscaped lakes and over 1,000 different shrubs and trees.
After exploring the arboretum follow the footpaths back to Busbridge Woods and then turn south through the Juniper Valley to Hydon Heath. The trail heads past Burgate Farm and Durrants Knob, before linking up with the Greensand Way around Markwick Lane. Follow the waymarked trail west and it will take you to Van Hill before descending back into the village.
Postcode
GU8 4HF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsHambledon Ordnance Survey Map - view and print off detailed OS map
Hambledon Open Street Map - view and print off detailed map
Hambledon OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Hambledon Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The 16th century Merry Harriers is a good choice for some refreshments after your walk. They have a decent menu and also provide good quality accommodation if you need to stay over. The pub also has a herd of Llamas living in the paddocks just behind the Inn. They even organise trekking expeditions with the friendly creatures! You can sit outside and enjoy your meal in their lovely garden with a view of the animals. The Inn can be found on the Hambledon Road at a postcode of GU8 4DR for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The woodland trails on the route are ideal for dog walking. The Merry Harriers pub mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To continue your walking in the area head west to visit the expansive Witley and Milford Common. To south you can cross Hambledon Hurst to visit the neighbouring village of Chiddingfold and continue into the Low Weald. Chiddingfold boasts a pretty village green, the beautiful Ramster Garden and one of the oldest pubs in England.
In nearby Hascombe you can enjoy a climb to Hascombe Hill. Here you will find an ancient Iron Age Hillfort and a photogenic stone circle built by the Megalithic Order of Druids in 1995/97.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Surrey Hills Walks page.