Silent Pool, Gomshall and Shere

Set in a hollow at the foot of the North Downs is Silent Pool where the walk begins. Mystery and legend surround the still, clear waters. One story tells how King John surprised a young girl bathing naked in the pool, causing her to drown while trying to conceal herself, while her brother also drowned attempting her rescue (with both said to haunt the pool by night). In contrast, the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson regarded Silent Pool as a source of literary inspiration.

After leaving the mysterious pool, the route connects with the North Downs Way, taking in a short section through woodland before dropping down to the village of Gomshall (noted for its tannery and Gomshall Mill). The walk returns to Silent Pool via the lovely village of Shere.

Shere is widely regarded as one of Surrey's prettiest villages, with Upper Street and Lower Street lined by 17th-century timber-framed, flint, and brick cottages. The 12th-century church of St James features a central tower topped by a shingled spire, while the sparkling waters of the Tilling Bourne flow directly through the centre of the village.

Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.