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Tickets: https://www.meetup.com/go-london/events/296699201/WhatsApp 07968585224
This linear hike follows semi-rural paths crossing farmland and several nurseries and commons with pockets of lovely woodland, before finally taking us along a 2-mile stretch of the Basingstoke Canal. With only 60 metres of ascent, this walk is suitable for beginners.
Starting from Woking Station, we head north-west through the pretty village of Horsell before continuing on quieter rural paths cutting through well-maintained farmland and wooded areas between Chobham and Ottershaw.
The route passes Fairoaks Airport, a small airport built in 1931 and initially used as a military training facility, now home to two training schools and also used by the filming industry. We also pass the McLaren Technology Centre, which comprises design studios, laboratories, testing and production facilities for Formula One, all discreetly tucked away behind a screen of trees and a lake in the midst of a vast area of parkland. Interestingly, the lake makes part of the building’s and the centre wind tunnel’s cooling system.
After our picnic lunch at the Mclaren Park, we cross the lovely Horsell Common, a 355-hectare nature reserve and a site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area - a rich and diverse habitat for hundreds of species of fauna and flora. Horsell Common is also where H G Wells set the landing of the Martians in his 1898 science-fiction novel ‘War of the Worlds’.
The last 2 miles of the route follow the Basigstoke Canal Towpath Trail, a quiet route with stretches lined with long boats, and the hike ends at West Byfleet Station. With a pub conveniently located right next to the station, we can stop for a drink before heading back home.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Woking railway station, Woking, United Kingdom
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