WHITMOOR COMMONSU982529
A footprint on the Explorer map indicates that Whitmoor Common is a venue for guided walks. It is situated in Salt Box Road which is a turning off the A320 (Guildford to Woking) just beyond Slyfield, near Guildford.
A frozen pond on a frosty morning.
The Green S/G walk
We follow the green self-guided (S/G) trail marked out by posts, some of which are missing just when you need them at a change of direction, so it's advisable to take my notes. Compass directions are shown in parentheses.
1. Follow the S/G trails (E) parallel to the road. At a clearing, bear hard left (NW) and immediately take the right-hand branch along the green S/G route. At a fork, walk directly ahead on the minor path and then follow the board walk (NE) which leads to a wooden bridge, after which you turn right (N).
2. Go past Heather Court (once owned by Lloyd George as a home for his mistress) and at the end of the house, just before the wooden stakes, turn left and then left again on the main track (SW). Where the track divides, take the left-hand branch and go past the pond where there's a wooden seat. Go past the barrier and bear right on the main track and then, at a bend in the track, go ahead past another barrier.
3. Go past Bayards Cottage and bear left in front of Yew Tree Cottage before continuing ahead. At a T-junction turn left and then go back over the stream. Come to a clearing, with a seat just ahead, and take the second turning on the right back to the car park.
Picnic: at Brittens Pond SU992530, in Salt Box Road.
Whitmoor Common
Walking trails through the wetland have been made possible by long stretches of timbers covered in protective non-slip chicken wire. There's a stream with its banks supported by locally-coppiced hazel. At least 19 species of dragonfly have been identified around the pond, together with silver-studded blue butterflies which can be seen in summer; there's also a seat to sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. The heath is predominantly ling with some bell heather and other varieties. In addition to silver birch and scots pine, there's English oak and holly.
WHITMOOR COMMONSU982529
A footprint on the map shows Whitmoor Common as a venue for guided walks. It is situated in Salt Box Road which is a turning off the A320 (Guildford to Woking) just beyond Slyfield, near Guildford.
Rustic bridge on the S/G walks.
The Purple S/G walk
In this extended walk of about 70 minutes, we follow the purple self-guided (S/G) trail marked out by posts, some of which are missing just when you need them, so it's advisable to take these guidance notes.
1. Follow the S/G trails, going east and parallel to the road. At a clearing, bear hard left going north-west, and immediately take the right-hand branch along the green S/G route. At a fork, walk directly ahead on the minor path and then walk the boards which lead to a wooden bridge, after which you turn right, going north.
2. Go past Heather Court (once owned by Lloyd George as a home for his mistress) and continue ahead along the drive. At the end of the drive, double back hard left along the tarmac path where you pick up the purple marker posts. Stay on the tarmac until just after Whitmoor Hatch and then bear right past the barrier and along the public BW. Turn left along a tarmac drive at Gooserye Cottage.
3. A path comes in from the left where there's a barrier and, a little further along the tarmac drive, you bear left on the woodland path at the purple S/G trail sign. Walk gently uphill until, just before a bench seat, you bear left heading for the next bench seat inscribed with the words "Provided by the Whitmoor Common Association". After resting, continue gently downhill and, after a short distance, take the woodland track on the left at the purple S/G trail sign. At the bottom, you come to a crossing track where you turn right along the public BW and go through the barrier. When you come to another crossing track, with the open barrier, go straight across. This narrow path follows the green trail and comes to a junction where there's a seat. Turn right, here, back to the car park.
Whitmoor Common
The common is one of a decreasing number of Heath and Wetlands in the County and even in the Country. The heathland was formerly maintained by Commoner's grazing and in their absence it is increasingly in danger of becoming a woodland of silver birch and scots pine which rapidly encroach on unmanaged land. However, the good news is that Surrey Wildlife Trust are doing a sterling job in managing the area. Because of the diversity of wildlife the common has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest.