Thursley walk on 13th March 2024

This was Tim's walk from 21st February which was called off as it rained all morning. This day was better, still damp in parts, but passable. Seven brave walkers set out towards the A3, luckily finding a tunnel to get to the other side. The area around Cosford House has a very musical history with Roger Taylor living and recording nearby for many years. The track took us past the very nice Cosford Farm and into out first water hazard. Luckily we had a way around the problem and with an easy walk through the woods we found a footpath that took us up into the hamlet of Bowlhead Green. A 6 bedroom house is available for £4.5m, but the average for the area is a mere £1.5m. A walk up the road took us to the drive for Emley Farmhouse, mid 16th C, now a National Trust property available for rent. Luckily it was empty on the day and we took the opportunity to sit on the wall for our drinks break. Refreshed, we descended into the valley and turned up the track to Hole Farm. From here we again ascended to the highest point of our walk, which happened to be another tunnel under the A3. Several fields took us to St Michael and All Angels Church, containing the grave of the Unknown Sailor who was murdered back in 1786. Also there is the grave of Derek Lutyens, (nephew of Edwin Lutyens) who died in a flying accident near Farnborough during WW1. At the exit of the churchyard there is a small hut, formerly a Dame School until formal education became compulsory during the 1880s. At the end of our 5 mile walk we had an excellent lunch in The Three Horshoes in Thursley village.