David Rose has been a staunch supporter of Walkfest for a number of years and through his work with the Guildford Dragon has become our media partner. His walks have always attracted a strong following - they are filled with fascinating historical information about the area and David is a great presenter. For the second of our guest blogs, we have great pleasure in handing over the page to him.
Walk leader David Rose
My mum said I never learned to walk - I learned to run instead. So much to explore, so much to see. We didn’t have a car when I was growing up, so we travelled by bus, train or walked.
From a young age I loved being taken to watch trains - more about railways later on!
My parents took me on walks in the local countryside, and these were the same walks their parents had taken them on when they were young. These were to places such as Pewley Down, the Chantries and Newlands Corner.
In my teens my mates and I spent hours in the countryside - Rydes Hill and Broadstreet Commons, Whitmoor Common and further afield into the Surrey Hills.
We were adventurous and we took an interest in the wildlife we encountered, particularly bird watching and identifying the species we saw. I also became interested in identifying butterflies, wild flowers and trees.
The long walks we went on, particularly during school holidays, seemed to be led by me. I think it’s because I looked at maps and tried to find places we hadn’t previously explored.
Therefore, I became known among my friends for dragging them on “Dave’s long walks”.
No matter how far we went, we were always back to our families for tea! No mobile phones then to tell mum we were on our way home!
We were also allowed to go camping by ourselves. I would have been about 15 years old at the time. Whitmoor Common and Albury Heath were chosen places.
There would be about five or six of us. Someone might have had an old canvas tent, but otherwise we made our own bivouacs with sticks cut down in the woods, then lashed together and covered with sheets of clear plastic.
When I was about 17 or 18 we did some night hiking. Take a train out to somewhere like Leatherhead or Witley. Have a pint or two in a pub and walk the whole night long, getting back to our homes with the dawn breaking. It was always summertime and exhilarating.
And I’ve continued to explore my local area ever since, with a strong focus on its history.
I guess it was inevitable that I would get involved with Guildford Walkfest and I have led walks for it for several years now.
Mine are more of a leisurely walk rather than a long hike. They always have a history theme and I really enjoy meeting everyone who comes on my walks and chatting to them. And, of course, I enjoy telling snippets of our local history as we pause at different places along the route.
My walks this year include a monthly wellbeing walk (usually on the first Monday) that I lead from The Hive community centre in Park Barn.
Always open to all, there is a small group who join me and we go on an easy stroll for about an hour and a half on a number of circular routes taking in the area’s green spaces (you might be surprised how much there is here). Sometimes we head off around the University of Surrey campus and up to Guildford Cathedral on Stag Hill.
That walk is on Monday, September 2, starting at 10.30am and is hosted by mental health charity Catalyst Support and Voluntary Action South West Surrey.
I usually lead three walks a year for the National Trust River Wey Navigations (I love walking river and canal towpaths). One of these is timed to be part of Guildford Walkfest.
A tranquil spot! Triggs Lock, between Send and Sutton Green, on the River Wey Navigations.
It is on Saturday, September 7, and it starts at 10.30am. Meet at the car park of Send Evangelical Church, Cartbridge in Send. The walk heads upstream along the navigation’s towpath to the delightful Triggs Lock, and then leaves the waterway to go up to St Edward’s Church at Sutton Green. Then back to Cartbridge via footpaths. Lots of history to talk about during the walk.
The third walk is on Sunday morning, September 22, starting at 10am and is a bit different. Firstly, it will be led by myself and my good friend Geoff Burch (we give illustrated talks together as well).
Me and my dad at Guildford railway station, Whitsun 1965. The steam train is about to depart for Horsham.
Photo by Roderick Hoyle.
Geoff is a retired railwayman and railway historian who started his career in 1961 at Guildford’s motive power depot (engine shed) in the dying years of steam trains on British Railways.
For this walk, all about Guildford railway station and its history, we will take our walkers on a trip back in time by visiting the platforms on the station and on to today’s Farnham Road multi-storey car park where the engine shed was. We’ll then walk to Yorky’s Bridge, a great spot in years gone by (and now) to watch trains.
We will be showing lots of vintage photos of the station and trains of all kinds!
I hope to see you on one or more of my walks this year.
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