Day Trip to Shere and Little London
This was a 7km walk through an ancient village, along the Tillingbourne stream, and through open countryside with some excellent views. The walk was found at www.fancyfreewalks.org
Shere is a twee village in Surrey that has featured in several films, including 'The Holiday' from 2006. The Parish Church (St James), built in 1190 with the Norman tower still apparent, was approached over the picturesque Tillingbourne stream.
Refreshments were obtained at the 'William Bray' bar restaurant (named after local solicitor/antiquarian 1736-1832). The food was good, but expensive. After lunch, the walk continued through the old village, alongside the Tillingbourne stream and out into the woods and meadows parched by less than 1mm of rain in the preceding month. Other churches appeared.
The large disused Catholic Apostolic Church commissioned by Henry Drummond (1786-1860) looked incongruous in the rural landscape, whereas the much older church on the Albury eastate, dating from Saxon and Norman times, was more in keeping with the environment. Albury Manor House was not open to the public but a maintained plantatation, full of rhododendrons, was part of the walk, and this eventually led to Little London and past the quaint toilet attached to the local Pub.
The walk skirted tinder-dry heathland before returning across meadows dotted with ancient oaks and sweet chestnuts before re-entering the tranquillity of Shere Village.
The walk
Refreshments were obtained at the 'William Bray' bar restaurant (named after local solicitor/antiquarian 1736-1832). The food was good, but expensive. After lunch, the walk continued through the old village, alongside the Tillingbourne stream and out into the woods and meadows parched by less than 1mm of rain in the preceding month. Other churches appeared.
The large disused Catholic Apostolic Church commissioned by Henry Drummond (1786-1860) looked incongruous in the rural landscape, whereas the much older church on the Albury eastate, dating from Saxon and Norman times, was more in keeping with the environment. Albury Manor House was not open to the public but a maintained plantatation, full of rhododendrons, was part of the walk, and this eventually led to Little London and past the quaint toilet attached to the local Pub.
The walk skirted tinder-dry heathland before returning across meadows dotted with ancient oaks and sweet chestnuts before re-entering the tranquillity of Shere Village.
The walk
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| Tillingbourne stream | St James Church | The William Bray |
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| Middle Street | The Forge | Old timbered house |
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| Ford across Tillingbourne | Very dry bluebell wood | Path through the woods |
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| Sheep in Albury Park | Catholic Apostolic Church | Church of St Peter and St Paul |
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| Albury Manor House | Rhododendron Plantation | Ancient Woodland |
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| Quaint Little London toilet | Pastures and Meadows | Tillingbourne Stream |
