The purpose of this walk was to follow a sign-posted trail of rock exposures set up by the Surrey RIGS Group, which records and monitors sites of geological interest in the county.
Ian Fletcher of this group gave ENHS a talk a few years ago, when the trail was just a project. Now it is easily followed with the help of a glossy booklet available at Newlands Corner and elsewhere (including Woking Library) for £1.50.
The complete circuit is some five miles, uphill and downhill all the way, but this can be reduced to three miles. In our case it was extended considerably by an unscheduled diversion into Albury Park, and lengthened in time by a great deal of foraging for anything animal and vegetable, as well as mineral.
Floral interest on the path down from Newlands Corner
While observing the official route, we examined exposures of sand and gravel on the top of the Downs, of chalk in a pit midway down the scarp slope, two different beds of Lower Greensand below the chalk, and a roadside exposure of the hard Bargate Stone, which separates them.
Examining the chalk pit
Our diversion into Albury Park was in quest of a unique variety of Black walnut that we were able to visit thanks to the kindness of the manageress and residents of the mansion. We were also able to identify many of the unusual old trees in the park, with the aid of an old map shown to us. We took the opportunity to shelter from unexpected rain in the ancient redundant church beside the mansion, at the heart of a ‘deserted village’.
Returning via part of the Pilgrim’s Way, we viewed the big Albury Sand Pit, now a landfill site, finally reaching Newlands Corner car park after an eight-hour trip! But this did include a pleasant hour or so in the ‘Drummond Arms’, Albury, as well as breaks to shelter from the rain.
Dick Alder