Start your walk in the heart of Abinger Hammer. There is a small village car park which is suitable for only about 10 cars, therefore you may find it difficult to park on busy days/times.
(S/E) From the village car park, with the car park behind you turn right and walk approx. 40m to the main road. You will see the village post office in front of you with a very old red telephone box (RockFun Hiding Spot) next to it. You might want to grab yourself a nice tea or coffee from the Tea Rooms too before you head off.
Turn left on to the Guildford Road and head on up the road. The village green will be on your left and the village notice board on your right.
Passing the bus stop on your left you'll now see the historic Abinger Hammer clock house up on your right, showing "Jack the Blacksmith" banging his bell.
Continue through the little village, past the cookery school and along the main road. There is a low metal railing on your left and you'll pass two large weeping willow trees. Just as the Guildford Road become the Dorking Road, you will pass a little brick built square bench (RockFun Hiding Spot) on your left opposite farm barns. 20m further on you will come to our first waypoint.
(1) There is a clear sign post labelled Public Bridleway and it is marke22. Here we turn left from the main road onto the bridleway.
You will pass two sets of semi-detached houses on your right, carry on walking as the path curves round to the right & walk along the path to the River Tillingbourne crossing. There is a small junction after the river crossing, continue on the centre path marked 22 which is between the driveway on the right and the dirt path on the left.
You will walk approx. 240m past a large estate on your right behind the trees, at the top of the slope, just before you reach the house at the top, you need to double back as the path takes an inverted 'V' shape, take the sharp turn left on to a path under a willow tree, that takes you across a large field, this is our second waypoint.
(2) Walk across the field and enter the wooded border on the opposite side. Once you enter the wooded area turn right and follow the track.
After about 40-50m you will see a stile on your left. Cross over the stile and exit the wood track into a field. Turn right and follow along the edge of the field for about 100m where you will see a footpath sign, you need to turn left and follow the track across the field. The track can be hard to spot some days, depending on the season as it is across a crop field. However, the path leads directly past a row of three large tree clumps which you cannot miss, the first of which is a large Oak where RockFun started a fairy village (Rocks painted like little houses) (RockFun Hiding Spot).
Pass the trees and continue to the opposite side of the field towards a large house. You need to go over the stile and turn right. The path veers left down a narrow track and follows parallel to Hammerfield Drive down to Felday Road. This road can be quite busy some days and you have to poke your head around the trees to see what's coming, so beware.
Cross straight over Felday road, climb over the stile opposite on to the next footpath. The path is lined on the left with barbed wire fencing, but you might be lucky enough to see the grazing cows. Continue along this path and cross over the stream using the small bridge (RockFun Hiding Spot). Walk up the steep incline (the kids might moan but it is a very short hill), passing the entrance to Oxmoor Copse on your right, keep going until you reach the end of the copse and the top of the incline.
At the corner of the copse, is another stile which you need to cross. Take a moment to enjoy the fabulous views of the North Downs. Follow the path, slightly uphill and diagonally 280m across the crop field (again this path may be hard to spot depending on season) towards the group of trees at the far right corner.
Turn right and veer left following the fence on your left bordering a triangular field for about 210m.
Follow the path along the fence until you reach the corner of the triangular field, where there is a opening onto a dirt track that continues in same direction for another 50m. You are now at a T junction with Public Bridleway signage. This is waypoint 3.
(3) Turn left to go down the hill, and continue downhill for about 600m, you will enter the grounds of Paddington Farm. Turn left and follow the road around to the right walking through the farmyard, between the barns. Carry on down the concrete road passing through the Wotton Estate. On your left you will pass Paddington Mill, an old watermill which is now a restored home, and on your right is Abinger Mill Pond, a fly fisherman's paradise but private.
(4) Leaving Mill Pond, 50m up the road you will reach the main Guildford Road (A25), turn left towards the village, taking the footpath next to the main road and following the river (This is a thin unmade path right next to main road, watch the kids). The unmade road becomes a safe pavement after 180m, and in another 180m you will pass Kingfisher Farm Shop on the left with its fresh vegetables, flowers and great beds of watercress. Just 75m more and we arrive back at the centre of the village. (S/E)
If you didn't grab a drink at the beginning it might be a good time to grab refreshments now at Tea Rooms (RockFun Hiding Spot), enter through the village shop. Sit down, pat yourself on the back and relax before making your way home wondering who might find those rocks.
