Puttenham to Guildford
A leisurely walk (low hills and fells (below 600m)) starting and finishing in Surrey, England, about 8.90km (5.53 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 2:30h. It is suitable for families with children, but unsuitable for prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs.
Elevation Profile
Ascent
23m (75ft)
Descent
127m (416ft)
Max. Elevation
150m (492ft)
Altitude Gain & Loss
150m (491ft)
Start
Puttenham
End
Guildford
Distance
8.90km
(5.53mi)
(5.53mi)
Duration
~2:30h
Difficulty
Leisurely
Ordnance Survey Map
3Created by John Walker on 20 Sep 2014
This is the second stage of the North Downs Way National Trail, going from west to east. You can get a bus to the start of the walk from Farnham or Guildford and there is a train station with good links from the end point.
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).
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- $walk->POI array(0)
Waypoints
OS Grid SU927482
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.
OS Grid SU931482
The track downhill 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.
About 0.36 km (~0.22 miles) from 
OS Grid SU930478
Turn left here and follow the road through the village, past the church until a T-junction is reached.
About 0.39 km (~0.24 miles) from 
OS Grid SU934479
Cross this road and go right along the pavement for about 150m to take a paved track to the left. Soon this passes through Puttenham Golf Course and a few isolated houses.
About 0.35 km (~0.22 miles) from 
OS Grid SU946477
Finally the paved track turns sharp right but the North Downs Way continues ahead on a sandy path. Through the wood the path gets more and more sandy underfoot which turns out to be quite tiring, using different muscles from the ones for walking on mud!
About 1.29 km (~0.8 miles) from 
OS Grid SU949477
Surrey is the most heavily wooded county in England. 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 came across orchids (common spotted) in the grass verge.
About 0.30 km (~0.19 miles) from 
OS Grid SU952477
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.
About 0.28 km (~0.17 miles) from 
OS Grid SU956476
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 a famous Victorian landscape and portrait painter as well as turning his hand to sculpture.
About 0.42 km (~0.26 miles) from 
OS Grid SU959478
After a short stretch in woods again the path comes out into open country with more high bracken stands.
About 0.28 km (~0.17 miles) from 
OS Grid SU966479
Through another wood the path 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 great views of the Hog’s Back ridge.
About 0.68 km (~0.42 miles) from 
OS Grid SU979480
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.
About 1.34 km (~0.83 miles) from 
OS Grid SU990483
The NDW 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.
About 1.16 km (~0.72 miles) from 
OS Grid SU993483
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.
About 0.24 km (~0.15 miles) from 
OS Grid SU994482
The North Downs Way goes right from here to cross the river on a footbridge but our route goes left towards the centre of Guildford.
About 0.13 km (~0.08 miles) from 
OS Grid SU995487
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.
About 0.49 km (~0.3 miles) from 
OS Grid SU996490
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.
About 0.36 km (~0.22 miles) from 
MillbrookOS Grid SU995493
Follow Millbrook to a large roundabout where the subway below it links with the railway station.
About 0.29 km (~0.18 miles) from 
