Note: I am sorry but owing to problems with my new shiny new phone, I was not able to publish this blog whilst walking. Instead I made notes, and now that I am home I will issue the updates over the course of the next few days. I have also extended and updated day 1 and added photos.
Today was a long, hot day. I was up early and started walking soon after 6am. The countryside is lovely at that time of day, fresh and unspoilt. Lots of birds, rabbits, squirrels etc. Twice I caught sight of deer. Look at this:
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| Early morning on the Downs above Dorking.. |
I crossed the pleasant open area of Ranmore Common and then the path went through Denbies Wine Estate, Britain's biggest vineyard I believe.
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| a corner of Denbies Wine Estate |
Immediately after the route crosses the river Mole, via stepping stones, and then goes up Box Hill, which is quite steep..
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| stepping stones across the river Mole |
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| Climbing up Box Hill. Lots of these... |
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| .. but the view from the top is spectacular. Dorking right of centre |
By noon, I had already done more than 13 miles. The afternoon was not so good as I started to wilt rather, in the heat. Also the landscape changed and the dreaded motorways - M23, M25 - began to intrude. I stopped for a mediocre lunch in a dusty little town called Merstham, right next to the motorway and then ploughed steadily on to Godstone where I was picked up by daughter Charlie and my two lovely grandchildren and whisked back to their house in Crawley Down for a night of pampered luxury (fish & chips from the van in the village and a glass of rose, excellent)..
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| strange gravestone in the woods for a horse called "quick," though presumably dead |
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| A lime kiln, near Box Hill |
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