This challenging walk, with lots of ups and downs, takes in heathland, sandy tracks and the lakes at Warren Mere. Thursley Common is peaceful, and there are fine views after ascending the impressive Devil’s Punchbowl, overlooked by 273-metre high Gibbet Hill.
Leave Milford station and turn right to Milford village. Turn right at the Alldays supermarket, then left to a T-junction. Turn left and cross to Lower Mouse Hill Lane. Keep straight on over the bridge and pass Dairy Farm House (1). After 25m, follow the public footpath right at the three-way sign, then right over a stile by a gate in about 80m; go straight on over three stiles.
Cross the grounds of a house ahead on your right, don’t go left, but follow pylons through Bagmoor Common. As they bear off right, go straight on to a tarmac road and lake ahead (2).
With the lake to your right, look left for a low post with footpath sign. Follow the path left and in 25m find two waymarks low to the ground. Follow the blue arrow right passing under pylons in 250m. Follow the faded blue arrow on a low post to your left (3). Reach a “National Nature Reserve Thursley” sign. Continue for 400m, bearing right on a wider bridleway track (shed on your left).
Follow a lakeside track by Warren Mere, left, until it bears right and uphill to meet the bridleway again (4). Go left and on towards a cottage to your left. Turn right, then left in 10m, forking right in 25m. The bridleway climbs before descending to meet a junction of tracks in 500m. Turn left on the sandy track ahead, then right in 100m passing a “Pedestrians only please” sign. Continue on this track as it climbs steeply, then levels off. Keep straight on over a crossing track, ignoring the “Permissive Bridleway” sign left and enter woods to leave by Foldsdown Cottage (5). Turn right to the Three Horse Shoes pub for a well-earned lunch.
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