Ripley, River Wey, Wisley Gardens and Walsham Lock

Ripley, an old coaching village, has been a popular place for cricketers and cyclists since the 19th century, and the green here is reputed to be the largest village green in the country. The old way from the village to Ockham Mill (Holly Bush Lane) is marked on a map dated 1769. Ockham Mill was built in 1862 by the Earl of Lovelace and remains essentially unchanged, though there has been a mill on the site since 1297.

Wisley's Royal Horticultural Gardens attract thousands of visitors each year, and the adjacent church is an unspoilt example of Norman architecture with a Norman chancel arch and windows. Opposite the church, the fields are the site of a Neolithic settlement where flints and pottery have been found.

The canal-side Anchor Inn may look familiar as it has been seen on TV programmes including the 1980s Adrian Mole series. Nearby Pyrford Lock and its marina are popular with anglers and river people. Built in 1651, the Wey Navigation links Guildford with the River Thames and London. Further along, Pyrford Place features a 17th-century summer house with a domed roof in an attractive setting. At Walsham Flood Gates, the Wey Navigation and River Wey separate, with Walsham Lock standing some 12–15 feet above the river.

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