There is roadside parking for two cars next to the departure point so please park considerately and do not block the gate.
(S/E) Walk down the marked bridleway from the road, passing to the side of the green gate. Cross the old railway bridge, ignoring the bridleway on the left, continuing ahead towards St. Peter's church. After visiting the church retrace your steps then bear left onto a wide grassy path with power lines running alongside. After 400 yards, go through the gap on the left hand side of a gate. Keeping left go down to a field gate and marked footpath. The path goes between a fence on the left and hedge on the right, parallel to the road (do not cross the stile into the field). On reaching the river and bridge the path turns right, up steps, to the road. Carefully cross the road, cross the bridge and immediately turn right at a public footpath sign going through a gate to Mill Cottage. Follow the tarmac track and on reaching the cottage's gate take a marked footpath on the left between two hedges.
(1) The path now continues alongside the river, going underneath the trestle viaduct (see "Things to Do"). Enter Benton Hall golf course through a newly repaired gate. The footpath keeps close to the river, following red and black marker posts, riverbank willows and the occasional waymark. On reaching a gravel track and a bridge on the left, continue straight ahead. After a few yards, the main path veers off to the right but keep straight ahead on a narrower gravel track which stays close to the river. At the 11th tee, at a junction of waymarked paths and another metal bridge, keep straight ahead to cross over a small footbridge of wooden planks over a ditch.
(2) Turn right at a marker post to walk past the 6th tee, on a gravel track, climbing gently uphill with a low fence on the left and trees on the right. At the top of the hill, where the track turns left, continue straight ahead through a gap in the hedge to follow a footpath with tall hedges on both sides. After 250 yards, leave this enclosed path through the swing gate, following the waymarking, After crossing a footbridge the fenced path climbs gently, eventually reaching a field gate. Go through the swing gate and follow the marked path, which eventually joins Mope Lane. Turn right to walk along this quiet lane, passing some attractive properties.
(3) A few yards after passing the imposing gates of 'The Springs' on the left, turn right at a fingerpost to walk down Sparkey Lane. At the end of the lane, keep straight ahead at a marker post to enter Sparkey Wood. This is private woodland so please keep to the obvious track, following it gently downhill, ignoring a track off to the right at a marker post. The path leaves the wood over a footbridge and swing gate where a grassy path goes ahead between a deep ditch and hedge on the right and fenced paddocks on the left.
(4) The path reaches a metal swing gate at the paddocks' entrance. Go through this gate, cross the track, go through a wooden swing gate opposite and up a short incline between hedges. Follow the path gently uphill between a hedge and fenced paddocks. The path emerges on Station Road via a flight of steps with handrails.
Turn left to walk gently uphill. Where Wickham Hall Lane joins from the right, continue on Station Road. Ignore Mope Lane straight ahead and turn right into Church Road, soon passing St. Bartholomew's Church (*see useful information*). Continue along Church Lane until, shortly after passing Church Cottages, turn right into Church Green.
(5) Opposite 21 Church Green's driveway take footpath 12, passing between fences and hedges. The official footpath goes left of the hedge at a concrete fingerpost, between the hedge and a fence, although it is easier to walk along the track to Wynmor Farm, and then passing to the left of its gate. The path S bends left and right before emerging at a narrow lane, Grange Road. Turn right along with the road passing houses and bungalows. Soon after 2 Grange Road take the first of two footpaths on the left, through a galvanised metal gate. Follow this path for some distance.
Where it meets a large field and the hedge leaves to the right, the path goes straight ahead (it is usually reinstated) to a marker post and gap in the opposite hedge. The path dog-legs a little and then follows the perimeter of Likely Wood on the right. It eventually goes through a dilapidated gate into a large field where it turns right, then bears left soon after at a marker post to head gently downhill on a wide grassy track towards two large barns and a road.
(6) Just before reaching Langford Road, opposite Reigate Barn, turn left to follow the field boundary to a fingerpost and telegraph pole that can be seen about hundred yards ahead. At the post, cross the road with care to a bridleway next to The Reigate Bungalow. Follow the bridleway gently downhill along the field boundary. Go straight ahead at the bottom of the field where a grassy track joins from the right, go up a slight incline and immediately turn right along the raised bank which is part of the Blackwater Rail Trail.
(7) After 500 yards, go under a high bridge and cross over a track to Wickham Hall. (The section of the path just after the bridge and track can become very muddy and often forms a small 'pond' in very wet weather. If this is the case, retrace your steps to the track, turn right and right again to follow an alternative path along the field edge with a low wire fence - this re-joins the main path a little further along). After half a mile the path swings to the left, rising slightly to emerge onto a field. At the fingerpost, with St. Peter's Church on the left, climb up the low bank to the track, turn right and walk back to the departure point. (S/E)
