Reflection of lee in Hascombe

Sometimes a simple trip to the Running Shop can be spiced up by taking a cross country run to get there instead of driving. My part of Surrey in the UK is unique in being criss crossed with some famous long trails including an old canal path that used to run to Brighton on the coast, an old railway line that also used to run to Brighton and a Greensand Way 108 mile trail that follows what was 100s of millions of years ago the sandy seabed in this area !

I ran down to Hascombe hill and ran round the next hill heading East towards Cranleigh. 

I could really see the effect of the heavy rains on the hills around Nore Hanger. The excessive rain has caused some large and old heavy trees to fall over and block the paths.

I carried on east from the hills round Hascombe towards Smithbrook Kilns and ran through a field that really reminded me of the Greensand Way stretch in Kent. 

running towards Smithbrook kilns near cranleigh

After an hour or so of running I got to Smithbrook Kilns. My camelback water pouch had developed a hole in it that morning so it was a good chance to take my rucksack off and take a chug from my water bottle. It was great to have a quick chat with Malcolm at the Tortoise and The Hare Running Shop on site. They were one of our supporters on the Greensand Way Run and are THE BEST running shop in Surrey. 

Their website is here 

http://www.tortoiseandthehare.co.uk/

Malcolm at the Tortoise and Hare in Smithbrook Kilns

After a very scary high speed  sprint down half a mile of the very busy A281 I rejoined a footpath heading East through Rydinghurst Farm. I ran past a little donkey who said hi. 

Donkey at Rydinghurst Farm

The ordnance survey map shows a very small airfield at Rydinghurst farm so I was very pleased to see a Wind Sock in the distance on a strip of grass that frankly looks unuseable for anything other than a bi plane and a pilot with NO FEAR AT ALL. The strip was short, on a slight slope and had power lines in the field. 

The windsock at the airstrip at Rydinghurst Farm

I then crossed then ran a few minutes along bushes that were covered in brown butterflies that all took off at each bush as I ran towards them. I got to the Downs Link footpath and turned north. It runs parrallel to the Wey South Path both of which are on either side of the Wey and Arum Canal.

Except the Sunday I ran it.

On Sunday The Canal ran THROUGH both the paths and I was greeted with ‘some surface water’ which was more than a puddle’ The picture below gives you an idea of how the ‘path’ looked. 

The Downs Link Path near Whipley Manor

I was very optimistic that it looked worse than it was and was only a foot deep. To start with the water stayed at mid calf level which reminded me of when I ran with Claire on the beach in the surf in Cornwall recently.

 It was fun …It was splashy ….I felt epic.

Only a few inches of water on the Downs Link path near Whipley Manor

A very wet Downs Link Path near Whipley Manor

The ‘groovy’ Wey South Path logo and  ‘Angry Cylon Head’ Downs Link logo

The amphibious stage of the run came to a sudden end as the Downs link climbed a few feet. I had the option of crossing over to the canal level Wey South Path or run higher up on the Downs Link……and didnt choose the low road. 

The Downs Link Path near Grafham

Being higher up by a few metres meant the path turned into a long straight, dry and civilised run on some nice wide gravel paths. 

The Downs Link Path near Rusher Farm

I got to see some of the bridges that give the Downs Link its logo and also to see some South and North Downs Way link posts showing me distances to various places near and far away.

Downs Link Signpost

Downs Link Signpost

Before long the Downs Link hooks up with the Greensand Way at Rooks Hill Farm and I popped up onto more familiary running.  I was surprised at all the times I’ve run over the Downs Link on the Greensand Way here and never noticed a Canal and bridge and paths crossing below. 

Christmas Trees near Brookwell on the Greensand Way

As is usual with my weekend runs I had taken far longer and run much further than I had thought I would and I knew it was about another 3.5 hilly miles home. I ran past the field at Brookwell full of Christmas trees

The large hill at Rowe Barn farm on the way to Thornecombe Street is very big and steep but has great views on both sides and is well worth a divert of the Greensand Way 

Finally it was a cruise through Thornecombe Street and up through Winkworth Arboretum. The run took about 2.5 hours and I ran about 12 miles. 

I had a great run, nearly went swimming, nearly did some plane spotting and ran some new paths.  Despite getting so wet Im thinking about running more of the Wey South Path into Bramley next weekend.

Ill bring my lifejacket next time.