Walking north through fields between the Greensand Way and Mare Hill Common

Start & Finish: St Michael and All Angels Church, Thursley, Godalming, GU8 6QQ
Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 163m
Greensand Way section covered: The Street to edge of Heath Hills Wood: 43.km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): National Trust Heathland Walk on Witley Common
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: Thursley, Witley Park, Witley and Milford Commons National Trust

This is the third of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

This walk starts at the church of St Michael and All Angels where the previous section left the Greensand Way. From the front entrance of the church take a left onto Highfield Lane then a right onto a small lane on the corner where Highfield Lane becomes The Street. Follow the Greensand Way in a westerly direction for 4.3km until the corner of Heath Hills Wood.

At the corner of Heath Hills Wood you’ll leave the Greensand Way and continue in a north-easterly, then northerly direction following a well marked footpath through fields. After 2 km from leaving the Greensand Way you’ll reach Mare Hill Road. Cross over the road into Mare Hill Common and take a left on the first path in the Common that runs parallel to Mare Hill Road. Here you’ll get some great views to the north. Continue walking in a westerly direction on paths on the south side of Mare Hill Common and Witley Common. You’ll cross over the A286 Haslemere Road and Lea Coach Road along the way.

When you reach the western edge of Witley Common the path will take a sharp left, heading south to join French Lane. Follow French Lane in a westerly direction, crossing over the A3 on a bridge to join the Old Portsmouth Road. Take a left onto Old Portsmouth Road and follow it for 400m until you reach Mathwall Engineering (an old petrol station) on the right. Take a footpath to the right of the old petrol station, following it diagonally across a field until you join back with the Greensand Way near the start of the route.

Much of this route is a circuit of the large Witley Park Estate. Much of the land covered in these first 3 Greensand Walks was owned by the estate until it was passed to the National Trust. The Witley Park Estate remains in private ownership.