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The track passes the impressive pleached beech hedges at Tilhill House and descends to Tilford, with the Barley Mow pub to the right. To the left is the village post office (closed afternoons Wednesday and weekends), which sells snacks and ices. Continue uphill to a blind corner and Caesar’s Corner House and take the right-hand tarmac path across the road.
Follow the yellow public footpath signs forking right at Archers Hill House, skirting Pooh Corner House, and at the tarmac road go right, downhill, with Highmead House to your left. Fork left, uphill, at Whitmead House and continue for about half a mile before you pass West Wey House and fork right, downhill, to The Donkey pub at Charleshill, a few hundred yards later.
A walker’s lunch at The Donkey (reservations advised) isn’t a soggy sandwich affair. Dishes include grilled monkfish with mussels and a tomato and basil sauce (£14.95), rump steak in a baguette (£5.50), and soup and bread (£3.50).
Maybe it’s the effect of a leisurely lunch, but walking in the afternoon always takes more effort. After Fulbrook Farm carefully follow the directions, keeping between the specimen oaks to your left and the telegraph cables to your right. Cresting the ridge of the field, climb the five-bar gate framed by two oaks. Bear hard left to cross the wooden railed bridge.
Continue through to the entrance of Peper Harow Park, despite the “no thoroughfare” notice (it is a public footpath), passing the estate church and cottages and the imposing façade of the main house, which has been converted into luxury flats. From here the bridleway route to Godalming crossing behind the cricket club pavilion is well signposted.
Entering on Borough Road, walk uphill to the Old Town Hall building (shaped like an antique pepper pot), with a plaque to mark the world’s first public street-lighting scheme in 1881, to arrive at the High Street and teatime refreshments. Signs by the Old Town Hall, in black and gold, direct you to Godalming train station. On your way, don’t forget to look above the shop fronts at the wonderfully erratic brickwork on buildings dating from the 1700s.
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