Exploring Surrey's Commons and (optional) RHS Garden Wisley
5 people attending
15 places left
This is a relatively easy and flat 7-mile circular walk which takes us through Wisley & Ockham Commons, east of Woking in Surrey. The area, including Chatley Heath nature reserve, is managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust and encompasses over 800 acres of woods, open water, bog, and heathland. It is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is part of a European Special Protection Area.
During the walk we shall see the Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower built in 1822, and the only restored surviving tower in a line of signalling stations that once stretched from Whitehall in London to the Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth. It is now self-catering holiday accommodation managed by the Landmark Trust.
We shall also see the eerie Grade II listed Samuelson Mausoleum built for Sir Bernhard Samuelson (1820 – 1905). It is situated hidden and overgrown in the woods and takes the form of a temple with a ribbed dome. The architrave includes inscriptions in Latin, Greek, and English. We shall also cross the old Wisley Airfield which is a former wartime airfield requisitioned from farmland. The site has a wealth of history with the runway in use between 1942 and 1973. The land was supposed to be restored to agriculture; however it has remained abandoned, and the runway is now full of cracks and moss.
After the walk there is the option to visit and have lunch at the stunning RHS Garden at Wisley which is one of Surrey’s most popular outdoor attractions welcoming around one million visitors each year. Covering 240 acres, it is home to some of the largest plant collections anywhere in the world, and includes the famous tropical glasshouse, containing a large array of exotic plants, and RHS Hilltop which is an impressive exhibition space.
Entry to the garden is free for RHS Members and 1 guest. Otherwise, it costs £15.95 excluding Gift Aid. Visitors who arrive car free (bus, cycle, on foot) and can provide proof can gain entry to the garden for £12 excluding Gift Aid. Please note the garden shuts at 3.30pm in the winter.
There is no charge to visit the garden centre where you can find plants, gifts, and homeware. You can also visit Wisley Café for free which is located at the entrance and sells tea, coffee, and snacks. There is a restaurant and additional cafés inside the garden.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
All images were taken by the leader.
What to bring
Hand sanitiser and a face covering: whilst we are living with Covid-19, please bring your own to events to help keep everyone safe
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Bring water and refreshments for the walk which will likely take around 2.5 hours.
There is the option of having lunch together at one of the cafés inside RHS Garden after the walk. Alternatively, you can bring your own picnic lunch.