Graham addresses the Godstone gathering Photo: David Sharp

Ramblers from across the county converged on the graveyard in Godstone where Edmund Seyfang-Taylor was buried 100 years ago.   Taylor, popularly known as 'Walker Miles', wrote and published around 40 'sixpenny' guides covering walks in Surrey, Kent and Sussex.

Graham Butler, who organised the event for the Ramblers' Association's Surrey Area, said: "By describing many paths Walker Miles undoubtedly rescued hundreds of rights of way from oblivion.   There were no definitive maps to confirm their legal status but by publishing walks he encouraged others to also walk little known paths which resulted in them being saved for future generations to enjoy."

At Walker Miles' grave Graham addressed dozens of ramblers who had arrived on five separate walks.   Among them was a contingent from SAWW.   The group's walks coordinator Chris Baron said: "There were about 10 of us.   Nine were on the Godstone walk led by Leslie from Epsom & Ewell group and one SAWW member joined a walk from Oxted station.   The sun shone, the churchyard at Godstone looked a picture with primroses and other wild flowers.   The vicar was welcoming and enthusiastically invited us into his church for a look at the beautiful stained glass, altarpiece etc, saying that boots weren't a problem."

Visionary

Chris added: "There was a short service during which the importance of Walker Miles was explained, with an act of remembrance.   We had prayers including the Lord's Prayer and a blessing.   And there was tea and cake at a village hall, where Graham Butler had set up a display of information about Walker Miles."

Born in 1854, Walker Miles was the founder of the Croydon Rambling Club and was associated with the Federation of Rambling Clubs, the Forest Ramblers and the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society.   His guides were published by the printing company, R E Taylor & Sons, which he inherited from his father.

Former RA Vice President David Sharp, who attended the Godstone commemoration on April 20th told SAWW News: "With his amazing series of sixpenny fieldpath guides, Walker Miles showed us the importance of our rights of way.   In his day they had no legal status and had virtually been forgotten by a generation.   He seems to have been a visionary, sensing how important these fieldpaths would become, as the motor car took over the country lanes.   Today we well know how important a part of our heritage they are, and it was Walker Miles who opened our eyes."

58 members took part in the hike from Haslemere to the Kent border - a distance of just over 55 miles.   SAWW's 'Operation Greensand' began on St George's Day in April 2006 - a fitting date to launch this walk across a beautiful piece of England.   It ended on a sunny Bank Holiday weekend in August 2007 with celebratory tea and cakes at a café in Westerham.

		Operation Greensand
		Haslemere to Witley   23.04.2006
		Witley and Hascombe   05.08.2006
		Around Winterfold Heath   26.08.2006
		Pitch Hill and Holmbury Hill   16.12.06
		Around Leith Hill   24.03.2007
		Wotton to Reigate Heath   14.04.2007
		Reigate Heath to Bletchingley   28.07.2007
		Bletchingley to Westerham   25.08.2007

Organiser David Leedham said: "The Greensand Way is a lovely route, and although we often cover parts of it on our regular walks, I felt it would be good to tackle the whole length of the Surrey section.   The path deserves more recognition.   There's never a dull moment as the terrain is so varied - ridges, valleys, villages, heathland, woodland, farmland, and even a touch of suburbia here and there.

"Being located between the North Downs and the Weald means that there are great views to both North and South.   And unlike the North Downs Way the Greensand Way visits Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey!"

It took eight walks spread over 16 months to complete the route - much longer than anticipated.   David explained: "I had originally planned five linear walks but the logistics proved too difficult.   To find car parking, a suitable pub stop, and transport between start and finish was simply not possible for some of the sections!   So instead, where there was no public transport, I devised circular routes which incorporated part of the GW.   This increased the number of stages from five to eight."

Using circular walks increased the total distance walked to 87 miles, with no less than 9,850 feet of ascent.   "My favourite parts of the walk are generally the hilly bits," said David.   "The edge of the Devil's Punch Bowl, the area around Hascombe, Winterfold Hill and the path to Holmbury and Leith Hill.   Perhaps my favourite spot is the viewpoint on Winterfold Hill - I love the way the glorious view appears suddenly after a long approach through the woodland of Winterfold Heath."

Of the eight sections four were walked as circular routes, one used a train, and three used buses to link the start and finish.   Eight people completed five or more sections.   Only David has completed all eight sections while Jackie Ellis and Barry and Liz Toogood completed seven.   They will be awarded souvenir certificates when they complete their missing sections.

Attendances on sections one to seven were very consistent - ranging between 11 and 14 people.   On the last section, on a rare sunny August day, 20 people turned up... almost filling the 410 bus.   There were pub lunches on all sections except the first which was a picnic... when it rained, of course!

The Greensand Way traces the Greensand ridge - named after the green coloured mineral glauconite found across the area.   Devised by local members of the Ramblers Association, the Surrey section was opened in 1980.

David says the paths were mostly in good condition.   "The Greensand Way paths are fairly well frequented, and apart from one or two dodgy stiles there are no difficulties.   The waymarking is patchy.   It's very good in some areas, but in others it leaves a lot to be desired.

A particular weakness is where the GW meets a road and turns along it for a short distance.   It is rare to find any indication of whether you should go left or right.   Navigating the GW without a map or guidebook would require a lot of trial and error and extend the distance considerably!

"My thanks go to everyone who joined me on the walks, and especially to Sue Ward for the extended loan of the excellent Greensand Way guidebook published by Kent and Surrey County Councils.   She has generously donated this book to the SAWW library.

"Of course, we have only walked half the entire 108-mile Greensand Way.   Perhaps someone will pick up the baton and complete the walk to Hamstreet in Kent!"








• For anyone wanting to catch up on missed walks, David has compiled a summary of all the Greensand Way sections covered by SAWW.




 

Saturday 9th September

SAWWers fly into Munich Airport to face hundreds of armed police!   It seems we've arrived on the same afternoon as Pope Benedict, who's making a visit to his Bavarian homeland.   With the autobahn into the city closed for the Pope, Richard, Sue, Alan and David run into problems as they try to steer clear of the security cordon in their hire car.   Their sat nav takes them on a mystery tour of the Eastern Munich suburbs... only to lead them right back to the airport!

Meeting up with the rest of the SAWW group in Ellmau their ordeal is quickly forgotten over drinks at the Hotel Alte Post, which soon becomes the party's 'base camp'.

Sunday 10th September

On our first morning we wake to bright blue skies.   Ellmau's alpine chalets are looking picture postcard perfect.   The jagged ridge of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range towers majestically above the town.

Malcolm, who suggested the holiday in the first place, leads an introductory walk starting with a bus ride to the Steinerer Steige - a gruelling flight of steps leading up to a beautiful lake, the Hintersteinersee.

A second group of intrepid explorers takes in the same lake on a longer walk which involves climbing up to the Walleralm hut for lunch.   The walk continues rather exhaustingly but spectacularly along a ridge and down through the village of Scheffau.   The seven hardy souls don't get back to Ellmau until 7pm.

Monday 11th September

Nearly the whole group turns out for Malcolm's walk through the pleasant upland meadows to the south of Ellmau.   We ascend 1565m on the Hartkaiserbahn - Austria's longest and fastest funicular railway, and follow the Bergwelt Panoramaweg scenic path.

In the afternoon as we tramp back down to Ellmau there's an unexpected chance to quench our thirst at a rustic barn which turns out to double up as a bar selling improbably cheap beer.   With the wonderful views across Sound of Music-style landscapes, it's a perfect moment.

Tuesday 12th September

We have a rest from walking and become daytrippers.   Salzburg is an easy drive and, with more fantastic weather, its historic centre is a sightseer's delight.   There's a chance to pose for pictures beside a Mozart impersonator and an unexpected encounter with a British café boss famed for his cuppas of 'real PG Tips tea'.

Some travel back to Ellmau by coach.   Those in cars head on to an unlikely tourist attraction - the salt mines south of the city at Hallein. Kitted out in standard issue protective white overalls and looking disturbingly like something out of the Ku Klux Klan, the party board a small train which takes them deep into the mountain, crossing under the Austrian/German border.   They whizz delightedly down 40 metre wooden slides into the heart of the mine and cross an underground salt lake on an electric boat.   It's a theme park for grown ups - and as the last tour party of the day, SAWW has the place to itself.

Meanwhile back in Ellmau, Alan and David have been conquering a local peak for SAWW - the mighty 2344m Ellmauer Halt.

Wednesday 13th September

Today's walk, led by David, starts from the upmarket resort of Kitzbühel with a ride on the Hahnenkamm cable car.

After a late lunch at Kirchberg there's time for a strudel stop beside the lake of Schwarzsee.   Its inky black surface reflects the surrounding peaks to perfection.

Thursday 14th September

Nick leads a 'cakes and lakes' stroll south of Ellmau taking in a visit to a delightful local swimming lake in the neighbouring town of Going.   Susan, Wendy, Rita, Danielle, Nick and Brian bravely take a dip in the icy water.   (Sadly it failed the big toe test for Lesley and Jill.)   And of course there was more of the inevitable strudel.

Meanwhile another party of SAWW adventurers are in search of thrills on a via ferrata hundreds of metres above Ellmau on the Wilder Kaiser.   Via ferratas - or Klettersteigen - are a network of iron ropeways and ladders built by Austrian soldiers in the first world war to move around the mountains.   Today they're a magnet for walkers with a sense of adventure and a head for heights.

Friday 15th September

Our last full day sees the group head off in different directions.   Destinations include the Krimml Falls, Kitzbühel and Hitler's hilltop retreat at Berchtesgaden.   Chris and Brian go on a walk and find a path blocked by an electric fence.   It's promptly reported to our footpaths officer, Mark - sparking SAWW's first international rights of way complaint.   Richard suggests we take it all the way to the top and approach the local bürgermeister, Dr Sebastian Eber, who, judging from his ubiquitous posters, just happens to be in the middle of an election campaign.

Flushed with pride after the previous day's via ferrata triumphs, the 'well hard' gang - Alan, Brigitte, Danielle, David, Richard, Sue and Zorina - are up on the Stripensjoch for more vertiginous escapades, and for the first time get a taste of bad weather.

The final evening is spent in Ellmau's one and only Mexican restaurant, which has become something of a SAWW favourite.   For some, it's the third visit in a week - a welcome refuge from 'hearty' Austrian fayre on offer everywhere else.

Saturday 16th September

Under unaccustomed grey skies it's time to return home.   There's a last chance for sightseeing in nearby Kufstein before catching our flights from Munich.   Mercifully there's no sign of the Pope and his entourage, and it's a clear run to the airport.

• Pictures by Wendy Garrett, David Leedham, Richard Lovell, Mark Percy and Alan Taylor.