Lower Bourne / Moor Park

INTRODUCTION:     If you have not walked in this area before, you could be pleasantly surprised at the variety and charm of the paths and scenery you will encounter. It starts from the car park of the "Spotted Cow" PH in Bourne Grove in Lower Bourne. (At the time of publication, the landlord has kindly given permission for walkers to park their cars in the car park. Do check with him that this is still alright before going off on the walk). It is usual that if ramblers use a pub's facilities, to buy drinks there. It has a large, attractive beer garden and a good reputation. Places of interest you will pass on the walk include "Leigh House", attributed to Harold Falkner (1875-1963) built in 1908 in the classical style. It was at Moor Park that Swift wrote his early works, "Battle of the Books" and "Tale of a Tub". The walk takes you alongside the entrance to "Moor Park House". There has been a house on this site since 1307. The present house dates from 1630 and was built for Sir William Temple, author and statesman.

LENGTH OF WALK: 3¾ miles (6km)
START: "The Spotted Cow" PH car park, Bourne Grove, Lower Bourne. GR 852453
MAP: OS Pathfinder 1225
REFRESHMENTS: "The Spotted Cow" PH.

1.     Go from "The Spotted Cow" car park to the road and turn L along it 50 yards (45m) to a FPSP. Turn L up the path indicated for 300 yards (270m) to another FPSP then turn R along a tarred road which becomes gravel in 30 yards and after another 50 yards (45m) reaches a path off to the L. Turn half L along the path which goes up then down then up again for 200 yards (180m) through woodland to steps up to a road. But do not go as far as the road and pavement, instead turn immediately R at a FPSP on your R and go along a narrow winding quite rural path. (Marvellous that such a path should have survived despite the provision of a pavement alongside the road. A tribute to the adjacent householders, who have not sought to get rid of it.)

2.     It is 250 yards (225m) to a road T junction. Turn L along the road for 150 yards (135m) to a road on the R with the name STONEYFIELDS and turn R along it, gravel for most of the way, for nearly ½ mile (792m) to another road. Turn L along it (opposite UPLANDS ROAD ) on a path that rises above the level of the road then down again to road level after 150 yards (135m) with OLD COMPTON LANE on your R. Turn R across the road and go along that Lane for 300 yards (270m) to where it forks. Go straight on down the R hand fork (signposted MOOR PARK HOUSE/SURREY CYCLEWAY LINK) for 50 yards (45m) to a gravel track off to the L with a FPSP and straight on down it through a gate marked "CULVER FARM" . After 200 yards (180m), just before a house on the R, turn half L down a path under trees for 200 yards (180m) to a path T junction and FPSP (with two North Downs Way (NDW) arms). Turn half R and on 150 yards (135m) (past S and FPSP on the R) to a FB and then on a winding track 200 yards (180m) to "HIGH MILL" gate, through it and another gate (lovely house and garden) 150 yards (135m) to a T junction.

3.     Turn R along a gravel track ignoring a track off to the L at "WEY COTTAGE" after 150 yards (135m) and go on, past "SWIFTS COTTAGE" and "TEMPLE COTTAGE" on the L, a tarred track now, for nearly ½ mile (792m) to a road with the gates to "MOOR PARK HOUSE" opposite (signboards indicate scholastic functions now). Turn R down the road 250 yards (225m) to a T junction (another little bit of the NDW). Go straight across the road to a footpath, marked by metal FPSP, and up this leafy path 180 yards (162m) to a FPSP and small church on the L at a lane. Turn L along the lane 300 yards (270m) to a road. Turn half L across the road to a path just by a set of road signs (the path is known as "Boreas Dene" and used to be so signposted. It now has an ordinary FPSP). After nearly 1/2 mile (792m) on this pleasant path keep straight on where a track goes off to R and along a narrow path with a wall on the L to a road by "REDHILL HOUSE" and FPSP.

4.     Turn R up the road 100 yards (90m) to LEIGH LANE on the L and go L up this gravel road past LEIGH HOUSE on the L, ignoring the path off to the R after 400 yards (360m) and on 50 yards (45m) to where the road is now tarred and then 200 yards (180m) to a FPSP at a road T junction. Turn L down the road 200 yards (180m) to a bridge, go over it and immediately L along a road 150 yards (135m) to the entrance to "The Spotted Cow" car park on the L.
 

This walk was contributed by Pam Richards, Rambles Secretary 1985-87