Hankley & Frensham Commons Circular

Surrey Walk

Heathland Walk + Pub Walk

Walk Route Description

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A circular walk exploring Hankley and Frensham Commons in Surrey. The route crosses typical heathland of the area which has been featured in TV features and films. The walk visits several ponds and the Atlantic Wall which replicated the Normandy defences during WW2 and used for training Canadian forces in readiness for the D-Day landings.

The walk starts from a free parking area on Priory Lane close to Frensham Little Pond (grid ref. SU853416). After parking walk southeast into the trees following a rising track. Reaching the crest of the rise, turn left and follow the path past viewpoints and drop down to Frensham Little Pond and the Tern Café. Just past the café walk along the access track at the rear. Cross Priory Lane to the path opposite to reach a bridleway (grid ref. SU859419). Turn right and continue through trees for just over a kilometre past Tilford Common on your right to a fork (grid ref. SU868425).

Fork right (blue arrow) and continue east to Tilford Road. Turn right and almost immediately left down the side of the Duke of Cambridge pub. The path is signed Tilford Woods and Hankley Common Golf Club. Just before the club house, bear right to join the Greensand Way heading southeast. The path passes between the greens and fairways and leads after 1200 metres to a complex junction of sandy paths named Lion’s Mouth (grid ref. SU886414). The remains of the Atlantic Wall lie off to the right. The massive reinforced concrete structure suggesting the magnitude of the defences facing the Canadian troops.

Continue southwest along a rising path over Kettlebury Hill. When the trees on the right give way to heathland (grid ref. SU880404), fork half right and descend into a shallow hollow. Continue to reach forested area ahead and turn right. The path runs on the north flank of Gold Hill and after 300 metres you reach a junction of paths. Turn left and then right at the next track. Pass Rushmoor Fishing Lake and continue to Tilford Road (grid ref. SU872401). Cross the road to the pavement opposite and turn left. Continue to just past the phone box and turn right at the footpath fingerpost. Follow the path across Frensham Common and turn right at The Flashes information board (grid ref. SU868398).

Head north across the heath to Axe Pond (on your left). Just past the pond, turn left on a wide path. Continue between trees to the next information board and turn right. Continue to Sandy Lane and turn left. The tarmac lane soon becomes a track heading across open heathland. Just before the first cottage at Lowicks, fork right and continue northwest. Keep ahead at all junctions, pass Frensham Little Pond, and return to the start by Priory Lane.

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