Chinthurst Hill

A beautiful sunny day, so boots on and off for a tramp. We headed up the hill to Pewley Down and from there turned towards St Martha's, but took Halfpenny Lane before the big climb up to the church. This footpath plunges downhill towards Chilworth.

The Tiilingbourne and the Gunpowder Mill pond

We crossed the little bridge over the weir for the gunpowder mill ponds on Blacksmith Lane and soon turned right onto the footpath again. Chilworth, a small village on the Tillingbourne River, dates back to the Doomsday book, but has the reputation of being the gunpowder village as gunpowder was made here for 300 years until the 1920s. When the Wey Navigation was completed the gunpowder was taken to the wharves at Shalford and then onwards by water to its destinations. There are remains of the gunpowder works and some of the old buildings have been made into houses, but we didn't stop to look at the remains.
The path now took us around the back of the village, across the railway and eventually across some sports fields. The next obstacle was to cross the A248 and follow the path around Lower Chinthurst Farm. We turned towards the hill and eventually found the path up to the top and Lord Inchcape's Folly. He built this tower in 1930 and it has become a listed building. The sun shone and the sky was deep blue and the pine trees looked very picturesque.

Chinthurst Tower, the pines and the birches

Looking across to St Martha's Church.

So, we began our descent and took the footpath towards the Wey and Arun Canal. Our route took us along the right hand side and we were soon at the old gunpowder store on its raised legs.

Along the Wey and Arun Canal to the Gunpowder Store

Time for a sandwich at the Parrot - much better service this time, before we took a familiar route passing Shalford Mill to The Chantries and back up to Pewley Down and home. The sun was setting as we arrived back.

Shalford Mill pond

Evening smoke

Sunset at Pewley Down