L2L Day 13 Christ's Hospital to Cranleigh - 10 miles

Going to Arundel station this morning, we walked along Arundel Green Team's planted path, with the beautiful daffodils speaking for themselves.


Christ's Hospital used to be an important junction separating the lines for Guildford and London. The platforms are still there.


The information board at the station explained how the vegetation might change along the route of the Downs Link to Guildford.





Spring must be on its way. This morning we've seen numerous butterflies, Cabbage white, Brimstone and maybe this one


was a Common Blue?

The path passes under the Roman Stane St. with this up to date tunnel.


After a "Sussex Charmer" cheese toastie in the sunshine at The Milk Churn cafe we headed for the railway tunnel at Hobbs Copse.

Unfortunately, the tunnel is no longer safe so the Downs Link footpath has a bypass which climbs almost 100 ft over the hill through South Wood.

We met Peter and Greg 


who were out for a days training ride - preparing themselves for a cycling holiday in Sicily next week. Lucky chaps.


I'm ready for my boot heels to go wanderin'

Today has been the best day so far for spring flowers with bluebells


Wood anemone,


Cellandines and Cowslips


Cranleigh history. There seems to be some association between Cranleigh (which changed its spelling in the 19th Century to avoid confusion with Crawley) and cranes which apparently used to breed at Vachery Pond on the edge of the village.
Cran, Crane ???


Vachery Lane

Cranleigh was home to the first Cottage Hospital in the UK - there's still a health centre in the middle of the town.

We're staying overnight at The Richard Onslow pub. 


There's some discussion over which of the Richards in the Onslow family gave his name to the pub but I'll go for the 1st Baron Onslow (1654–1717):  a Whig politician, Speaker of the House of Commons (1708–1710), and Chancellor of the Exchequer (1714–1715) known as "Stiff  Dick"!!!

4 years ago, Paul, Caroline and Aaron joined us to walk the South West Coast path in Cornwall and then later in Scotland for a beastly section of the West Highland Way along Loch Lomond.
This evening they joined us again - but this time for supper. 


Earlier in the afternoon, 5 yr old Aaron, despite his broken right arm, had been mascot for the Dorking Town football team for their crunch derby against Worthing. He's relearning to write and eat baked beans with his left hand. A hero!

Comments

  1. Peter Bryant7 April 2026 at 10:53

    Good luck David it was a real pleasure meeting you on the the beautiful Downs Link path near Cranleigh and hearing about your wonderful Lewes2Lewes walk, good luck, happy walking and blogging, Peter and Greg (the intrepid cyclists)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David's 2022 Walk13 April 2026 at 12:20

      Many thanks Peter. It was great to meet you. Have a fantastic time in Sicily. Say hello to Agrigentum from me.

      Delete

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