Wey Navigation Walk
Saturday March 15, 2008
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Wey Navigation WalkSaturday March 15, 2008 |
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Wey NavigationKey FactsStart/Finish: First Car Park on Chertsey Meads Distance: 13.6 km or 8.5 miles Time: Allow 3.5 to 4 hours Type of walk: Easy Walking DirectionsTHIS IS A VARIED & INTERESTING WALK TAKING IN THE OPEN SPACE OF CHERTSEY MEADS AND BOTH THE WEY NAVIGATION AND BASINGSTOKE CANALS. MAP REF. 055662.
Cross the road & follow the track parallel to the road down to the junction where the road swings left to the second car park. Turn right towards the River Bourne along footpath no. 9. Turn left to follow the edge of the Bourne under the line of the overhead power cables before turning right over a concrete bridge. Continue along the footpath parallel to the barbed wire fence, with woodland on the right & open fields on the left. Pass straight through the caravan park. On reaching the Weybridge Road turn left and cross this busy road at the traffic lights. Cross over the bridge and turn left at the roundabout along Addlestone Road. Cross the road and just past the final office block on the right, cross the concrete bridge over the River Wey Navigation. Turn right to follow the towpath along the water’s edge. The path continues past the attractive Coxes Lock to New Haw Lock. Here it is necessary to temporarily leave the towpath to cross Byfleet Road, before going down the steps to join the towpath once more. Continue along the canal, passing under the M25. Just past the motorway bridge and before the railway, cross the canal by the metal bridge to walk along the Basingstoke Canal. The canal, which opened in 1794, originally linked the town of Basingstoke with the River Wey Navigation, a total distance of 37 miles. It was not a commercial success as the waterway did not form part of a through route and the advent of the railway took away trade. Commercial traffic to Basingstoke ceased in 1910 and by the mid 1960’s the waterway lay semi-derelict. After 18 years of volunteer restoration work, HRH The Duke of Kent formally re-opened 32 miles of the original navigation on 10th May 1991, as commemorated by the plaque at Bottom Lock (Lock 1). Continue along the canal, passing the interesting canal boat homes, pass under Scotland Bridge, and Lock 2 to arrive at Lock 3. Here, cross the navigation, and immediately turn left to follow the canal a short distance on the other bank. The lock keeper’s, Wisteria draped, cottage can be admired on the far side. Turn right through the pedestrian zigzag and follow Fans Lane, taking care, as there are no pavements along this stretch. At the T-junction with Woodham Lane, turn left at the Victoria public house, cross over the road and take the left fork along an unnamed, unmade track. Follow the track as it sweeps round to the right and slightly uphill to a cottage. A footpath squeezes between a gap between a conifer and a holly bush and the path widens to form a track beyond a metal gate. On reaching Woodham Park Road, turn left. Your route passes Bourne Val ley Garden Centre and as the route turns to the left, cross the road and walk along a footpath. At a footpath crossroads, turn left. Cross the Bourne River and a track before emerging on Rowtown, opposite Walton Leigh Recreation Ground. Turn right, and then right at the junction of Rowtown and Ongar Hill. At the end of Ongar Hill, turn right at the mini roundabout, over the bridge spanning the M25. Pass St Paul’s Church and turn left down School Lane. At the mini roundabout with Green Lane, turn left passing under St Peter’s Way. Cross the road and turn right along a footpath immediately after the roadway to Addlestone Cemetery. This footpath passes Addlestone Cemetery and a golf course before crossing the Weybridge to Virginia Water railway line at a footbridge. Continue along St. John’s Way, pass Chertsey Cemetery on the right and at the junction with Eastworth Road, turn left. At the mini rounda bout, turn right along Free Prae Road and take the fourth road on the right, Stepgates. At the end of the road, cross Weir Road using the pedestrian crossing. Continue along Mead Lane, pass the marina on the left, and back to the car park.
This site was last updated 09 Mar 2008 |
