Surreys secret beaches!! Alice Holt Forest, Bourne Wood (movie location), 18km

Hike through beautiful Alice Holt Forest, once predominantly an ancient oak forest and known in the 18th and 19th centuries for supplying timber for building Royal Navy ships. It now comprises mainly conifers and is part of South Downs National Park.

A scenic hike through the forest and fields brings us to River Wey at Frensham Manor - as we follow it, we reach Frensham Great Pond and, a bit further on, Frensham Little Pond. Marvel at Surrey’s secret sandy beaches at these Ponds (hidden treasures!). Who would have thought you'd find sandy beaches in Surrey, just outside London!? Don't let the names fool you...these ponds are more like lakes! They were originally created in the 13th century to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester and his court while visiting Farnham Castle.

Frensham Great Pond and Common is a Green Flag Award winning site covering roughly 1,000 acres of attractive countryside and offering a sanctuary for wildlife. Aside from fishing and swimming, the Great Pond has sailing and refreshments are available at a kiosk at its sandy beach. The Common is made up of a large area of heathland and woodland. The Little Pond is in a more secluded woodland setting. There is a cafe by the water's edge. We'll take some time to enjoy the beaches ... kick your boots off, dig your toes into the sand and relax!!

Bourne Wood is a popular film location south of Farnham - it's known for the opening battle scene of Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning epic Gladiator, starring Russel Crowe. We'll walk across this site. Other movies filmed here include Harry Potter films, Transformers 3, and Netflix productions like The Crown and The Witcher. We end the hike at Farnham, a beautiful market town where we have the option to visit a local pub next to the station.

Cost: £4 organiser fee payable on RSVP

Start time: 10:10am

Start location: Bentley (Hampshire) station (my mobile: 07951673142)

End location: Farnham station

Length: 18km

Ascent: 175m

Time: approx 6.5 hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee what time we'll finish as it depends on the weather, pace of the group and our breaks along the way.

Pace & Difficulty: a reasonable moderate pace; we will not be zooming along in a mad rush. The aim is to enjoy the outdoors and have a fun, friendly day. You need to be reasonably fit; there is a moderate level of ascent and it's a bit on the long side.

Transport (train): The 8:54am train from London Waterloo reaches Bentley (Hampshire) station at 10:02am. Check the trains before travel. You could coordinate with other participants and buy a group saver ticket. This is a linear hike and so your return to London is from Farnham station.

Transport (car): If you're driving, there is some free parking on the side street close to Bentley station. You can take the train back from Farnham to Bentley - it takes 6 minutes.

Transport (car share): I'm driving from Ealing, West London and have space for 3 passengers. Please contact me if you'd like to car share.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Walkways and trails can be steep, muddy, and slippery and boots with ankle support will be useful, as well as hiking poles. Gaitors are handy when its muddy and wet. Carrying waterproof socks in your backpack is a good idea in case your boots get wet from the inside. Don't wear inappropriate clothing such as jeans and sneakers. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER / TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
By participating, you confirm you have read, understood and accepted the below, including the full Terms and Conditions
I am NOT a qualified hike leader or first aider.
Hiking, walking, and hill walking carry the risk of personal injury and death. Participants must be aware of, and accept, the risks. Participants are responsible for their own safety and actions and agree not to hold me responsible or liable for any injury (or death), damage or losses incurred either directly or indirectly from their participation in group events. This group is for people 18 years old and over.