Thursley Common National Nature Reserve
This lovely nature reserve has miles of boardwalks and footpaths taking you to fine heathland, ponds, lakes and deciduous woodland. It's one of the finest areas in the country for wildlife with birds including woodlark, Dartford warbler, nightjar, stonechat, whinchat and curlew. Also look out for some very rare butterflies including silver-studded blue, white-letter hairstreak and purple emperor. In the heathland area you may see reptiles such as the rare sand lizard and smooth snake. Rare dragonfly and damselfly can be spotted around the pools and lakes. In the fen and open water area you can see various water loving birds such as great crested grebe, mute swan, coot, water rail and little grebe. Finally in the woodland area you can see woodpeckers, woodcock, redstart, tawny owl, nightingale and hawfinch.
This circular walk starts at the Moat car park and takes you across Thursley Common to Silkmill Pond and Warren Mere. You then head across Ockley Common and pass Pudmore Pond before returning to the car park.
If you would like to continue your walk you could head to the nearby Frensham Country Park where there are miles of cycling and walking trails.
The Devil's Punch Bowl and Gibbet Hill is also a great option with more cycling and walking trails through a natural nature reserve, filled with heathland, streams and woodland.
The Greensand Way long distance footpath also runs through the common so you could pick this up to continue your walk.
Postcode
GU8 6LW - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsThursley National Nature Reserve Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Thursley National Nature Reserve Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Thursley National Nature Reserve OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Thursley National Nature Reserve Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Woolpack in nearby Elstead is a good choice for post walk refreshments. The historic 17th-century village pub includes a fine restaurant and a large grassy garden area if the sun is shining. You can find the pub just north of the car park at Milford Road, Elstead with a postcode of GU8 6HD for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The heathland and woodland on the common are ideal for dog walking so you'll probably see other owners on your visit. The Woolpack mentioned above also welcomes dogs.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Head a few miles south east and you could pay a visit to the worthy village of Chiddingfold. The historic settlement includes a picturesque village green, a beautiful landscaped open garden and one of the oldest pubs in England.
Just to the east there's the National Trust's Witley Common to explore.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Surrey Walks and the Surrey Hills Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Thursley Common. Superb bit of lowland bog, find it hard to believe a bit of Surrey still looks like this! Amazing for dragonflies in the summer.
Noticeboard on Thursley NNR near The Moat. This is located at the car park on the north west corner of the reserve.
Boardwalk over the bog.
Bridleway. A wide sandy track crossing the heathland of the National Nature Reserve. The cairn and marker show an oil pipeline location. Note the burnt heather and the scorch marks on the tree trunks - there was a large fire here in 2007.
In the middle of the common - heathland covered mostly covered by heather, gorse and pine woodland - is this fenced off grassy field.
This section is not well-drained but walkers have been given a boardwalk here (right of water) to get them past with dry feet (courtesy of Godalming and Haslemere Ramblers). The common here is much bog and grass.
The vegetation takes on this orange hue in the low winter light on the (2.5 years) previously fire-ravaged heath.
Blooming Gorse. Gorse lining the bridleway heading north from Thursley village into the National Nature Reserve. The way is sandy as it goes over the heathland.