Connect Guildford with Slow Ways
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Give a hike!Guildford
Surrey
Slow Ways linking Guildford and Aldershot, Ash Vale, Brookwood, Cranleigh, East Horsley, Farnham, Godalming, Gomshall, Ripley (Surrey), Woking
England / Surrey / Guildford
Guildford’s ten Slow Ways are 68% checked
Help connect Guildford
Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.
Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.
Give a hike and help get a for every one of Guildford’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Guildford from further afield
Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aldershot—Guildford
|
Aldgui one |
|
3 X |
|
Verify me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 197m | Descent 145m | ||
Ash Vale—Guildford
|
Ashgui one |
|
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 159m | Descent 124m | |
Ash Vale—Guildford
|
Ashgui two |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 18km/11mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Ash Vale—Guildford
|
Ashgui three |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 19km/12mi | Ascent - | Descent - | |
Ash Vale—Guildford
|
Ashgui four |
|
U U |
|
Survey me | Distance 17km/11mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Brookwood—Guildford
|
Brogui one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 13km/8mi | Ascent 100m | Descent 86m | ||
Farnham—Guildford
|
Fargui one |
|
U U |
|
Survey me | Distance 20km/12mi | Ascent 286m | Descent 316m | ||
Farnham—Guildford
|
Fargui two |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Godalming—Guildford
|
Godgui one |
|
4 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 9km/5mi | Ascent 47m | Descent 39m | ||
Guildford—Cranleigh
|
Guicra one |
|
U U |
|
Verify me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 74m | Descent 91m | ||
Guildford—East Horsley
|
Guieas one |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 16km/10mi | Ascent 242m | Descent 190m | ||
Guildford—Gomshall
|
Guigom one |
|
4 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent 287m | Descent 243m | ||
Guildford—Gomshall
|
Guigom two |
|
U U |
|
Survey me | Distance 11km/7mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Guildford—Ripley (Surrey)
|
Guirip one |
|
U U |
|
Survey me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent 43m | Descent 55m | ||
Guildford—Woking
|
Guiwok one |
|
U U |
|
Survey me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent 47m | Descent 43m |
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Collective progress
62% of Guildford’s ten route options are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
15/15
12/15
3/15
7/15
29 people have contributed to Guildford’s Slow Ways
3 people have pledged to walk and review a route
4 people have surveyed a route in Guildford
177km out of 228km have been walked and reviewed
545km of reviews have been shared in Guildford
Latest Updates
Starting from Guildford station there were construction works going on which meant walking on the road (see photo 1). Once the route joins West Flexford Lane, the next section is more or less along a straight wide paved or unpaved road with a bench roughly in the middle between Guildford and Ash Vale (see photo 6). After a 1km walking through the woods, the route joins a disused railway path as you can see on photo 9....
Petr Sadilek
All the usual town centre amenities in Guildford. The Millbrook footbridge over a weir near Guildford town centre is closed so requires a short diversion onto the adjacent Shalford Road pavement between High Street and the Weyside pub....
Berkshire Walker
Walked this from Godalming to Guildford, not much more to add to previous reviews except that Hector's Bistro at the Farncombe lock is now closed due to the retirement of 'Hector' and The Manor Inn is closed and is to be refurbished by new owners, so it could be some time before that is re-opened. An easy level walk except for a sandy eroded section close to Guildford which needs care. At Guildford I took the alternate route to the right onto the road past the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre as I wasn't sure of the status of the last section....
Walkinggirl
Very nice and popular walk, an alternative to the Christmas Pie Trail, which goes to the Surrey Research Park. That trail is shorter, but goes through a more residential area at the Guildford end: https://www.routeyou.com/en-gb/route/view/4387002/mountain-bike-route/christmas-pie-trail...
zoltan
I enjoyed walking this route with Dan in April....
danravenellison
I had to take a small detour as the path over the wooden footbridge off Blighton lane (by golf course) was flooded due to recent rain. Fine if you're wearing wellies....
Naomi
Train stations at each end make this an easy route to get to and from and the final stretch just before Ash Vale provided an absolutely beautiful stretch up the canal which I really enjoyed....
Dan Barron
This route is a great walk to Cranleigh and beyond if wished, along the Downs Link, which is what the route is from Bramley onwards, all the way to Shoreham if you wish, passing to the west of Horsham, Slinfold, Southwater, Christ’s Hospital, West Grinstead, Partridge Green, Henfield, Steyning, Bamber. The DL is well-signposted. The surface is good, predominantly hard earth, although can get a bit muddy in parts in the colder wetter months as horseriders and cyclists use it....
94NORM
A little care needed crossing the A25, and then back into a pleasant woodland stroll until the Alpine descent to Gomshall (or Silent Pool if you duck out a little early). The walk up to St Martha’s is moderate but the reward of the views to the south is worth it....
94NORM
Also I recommend to take certain amount of water as you won’t find any store or etc to have water throughout the walk. This route doesn’t show in google maps I would recommend to use os maps or slow ways maps....
Sandeep Pudota
There is a bit of an incline to negotiate, since the walk starts and ends at river height (River Wey), but climbs to follow just south of and parallel to the Hogs Back ridge....
V96GLF
I stopped for lunch at Shere having walked from Horsley through Gomshall....
JohnMyerson
Calming walk that takes you all along the canal which is fairly accessible and pretty. It very long though and requires commitment and preparation...
Tallulah P
Very pleasant walk, flat and easy to navigate. Just a shame that the only pub along the route is on the wrong side of the canal!...
V96GLF
There were often great view of the North Downs (photo #1, #5, #7). Getting into Guildford is along the Mile Path which is a fairly long ascent (photo #10, #11), but again, has great view from the top (photo #12)....
Derick Rethans
Hourly-ish bus service from Send to Woking or Guildford (not Sundays or bank holidays). There was one section between Send and Old Woking where the path became muddy and slippery, and there wasn’t much to hang onto for stability - I recommend walking poles and good waterproof boots/wellingtons!...
Jane Taylor
I started at Horsley Station and joined the route by walking 1 km next to the railway. To avoid walking down Ripley Road (no pavement) I diverted through Hatchlands Park (map)....
JohnMyerson
** small correction required at Guildford Station for safe access - see map with correct route and photo of ‘no pedestrian’ sign, which is what you will see - for good reason - if you try going the way this is routed**. Would be great to have ‘versioning’, which would allow small tweaks without having to make a new route option. Otherwise - a very good route, follows the Wey navigation between Guildford and Send, then across farmland and woods to Ripley....
Jane Taylor
I found the approach to the station at Guildford traffic heavy, with some awkward crossing points - there are better low traffic ways to reach the towpath from the station; this could be put into a new version of the route in due course....
Jane Taylor
Route starts near to the train station and entails walking along a busy road but you soon leave this for quieter roads. Walk follows North Downs Way through beech and oak woods. There is a bunkhouse at Puttenham for accommodation....
Lizbiz70
The first third or so follows the River Wey and Wey Arun canal and from Bramley it follows the old railway line which ran from Guildford to Horsham....
Paul Jeorrett
This part is quite a large ascent up Pewley hill but otherwise it's a fair easy walk, the path near Albury can get very narrow and overgrown....
Ryan
A few short sections on some very quiet country roads and a small number of busy road crossings. We walked it in June 2022 and the last section into Guildford was closed part way along the river wey. However you could cross a bridge to the main road and follow that the last few 100 metres into town...
Dannyash
As someone mentioned, the footpath to join the River is closed (this is March 2022), so I went on the A281 southwards and took the next footbridge to join the path. It is a very peaceful walk that should be suitable for most people, but there are a few muddy parts and one section that is not suitable for wheelchair users....
Ingrina
You climb a bit to Guildford, but you are rewarded with a fantastic view of the Surrey Hills before the descent into Guildford central, quite long and steep....
Ingrina
The route was mostly flat running along side the River Wey....
Philipj8
There is a delightful bistro at the start of the walk and a pub/restaurant half way along with a children's playground in the garden. The scenery is stunning and there is much of interest along the way including narrow boats, locks, a pill box and lots of wildlife. Part of the route runs along the old railway line and much of the path is National Trust land....
Blackheath
Pleasant walk along the Wey Navigations - looking out over lots of green - and then through farmland, woodland and along a lake....
Syazi
It can't be helped but the final mile or so into Woking isn't as pretty but I'm not sure there's a pretty way into Woking. There is a temporary issue which is right at the start you can't get to the river from the station at the moment because of works on a new bridge, however if you turn left from the station down Walnut Tree Close there is a little alley down to the river not far along....
misschappo
The path to the south with views of the North Downs and open countryside starts a bit closer to Guildford with paths leading across to it from around the pylons....
Catherine B
A generally flat route following much of the River Wey/Wey Navigation towpath from Guildford Station to Woking Station....
Walker1
Another issue, around Wood Street village, it appears to go along the train line for a bit..... fixable, the path loops south of the train line....
mark
I do not expect this route to survive, it is here to give options for anyone wanting to go Ash Vale through to Guildford who arrives when ranges are closed.......
mark
A short section of the route crosses a firing range which is permanently closed off and not accessible to non military personnel at any time. Therefore, the route doesn't really work. Would be a lovely route if not for that!...
Mary S
It's a very flat and direct walk and one could easily access it by following the North Down signs....
ykexplores
From Godalming into Guildford cross the bridge over a small weir and continue straight ahead in front of the Guildford Rowing Club to a tall bridge. Rather than continuing left as marked, cross the bridge to the A281 Millbrook. Take footpath to left of the theatre, cross the bridge at the lock and continue back to the route. Once the Millbrook bridge reopens, some wheeled users may still find the route has challenges....
Catherine B
The proposed route seems to run straight through the army’s major training ground and shooting ranges....
Downsize
This is an attractive route on major paths, with excellent views over Surrey and West Sussex. from St Martha’s Hill and Newlands Corner. Surfaces should be fine for walkers when dry, though the parts on the North Downs can become muddy in winter and very wet periods...
Downsize
If the flags are up, you can walk along the edge of the military land just outside the Fence from east of the Basingstoke canal at Ash Vale then north east near Wyke common until you pick up the slow way again....
mark
Slow Ways added Aldgui one, a new walk from Aldershot to Guildford
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Ashgui one, a new walk from Ash Vale to Guildford
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Brogui one, a new walk from Brookwood to Guildford
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Godgui one, a new walk from Godalming to Guildford
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Guicra one, a new walk from Guildford to Cranleigh
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Guieas one, a new walk from Guildford to East Horsley
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Guirip one, a new walk from Guildford to Ripley (Surrey)
Walk this routeGuildford’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
SU9921949568
Lat / Lon
51.23667° / -0.58014°
Easting / Northing
499,219E / 149,568N
what3words
Fancy stretching your legs a bit more?
If you’ve polished off all of the routes between Guildford and its neighbours, how about walking its whole web?
This includes the great ring of routes that join its neighbours to each other!
Facilities
Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Guildford's meeting point
Public toilet
Wheelchair accessible toilet
Supermarket or convenience shop
Restaurant, cafe or pub
Accommodation
Accommodation for under £50 a night
Campsite
Bothy
Free wifi
Mobility scooter hire
Off-road wheelchair hire
Disabled Parking
Train station
Bus stop
Ferry
Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town
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