King Alfred's Way: Farnham to Devil's Punchbowl

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Last summer, I rode the Reading-Farnham section of the KAW. With the return of warmer weather, and easing of lock down restrictions, today I did the next section, from Farnham to the Devil's Punchbowl. I took the train to Farnham, my first train journey for over a year! From Gibbet Hill at the Punchbowl I descended on the BOAT to Farnham Lane, which provided a fast low-traffic descent to Haslemere station and the return train home. 21 miles in all. Here's a map.

I have covered some of the route before as part of the Surrey Hills Cycle Loops, namely the Frensham and Devils Punchbowl Loops, but the KAW provides an interesting variation. With the recent dry weather, the routes were free from mud, rather there was the opposite problem, quite a lot of deep sand.on the heaths, plus a bouldery ascent from Thursley to the Punchbowl, which made for quite a tough albeit short (21 miles, 5 hours) ride. As the photos show, it was a beautiful sunny day, showing off the Surrey countryside at its best.

Easy start in Farnham Park

Subway under the A31

Nice track beside the River Wey

Leafy suburbs of Farnham

Typical bridleway through the woods

You pass beside Farnham RSPB heathland reserve

Bridge over the Wey between Pierrepont Farm and Frensham Little Pond

River Wey

On Frensham Ridge (sandy!)

Views to Frensham Great Pond

On Hankley Common

Bridwatchers at Parish Field, Thursley Common. 'Colin the cuckoo' returns each year to this spot, providing great photo opportunities.

'Atlantic Wall' on Hankley Common, replica built for training Canadian Troops prior to D-Day

Rest stop on Thursley cricket ground

The bridleway ascending from Thursley to the DPB is tough: why not cheat and use the old road (see map).

Mercifully, you eventually join the old road.

I ended my ride along the KAW at Gibbet Hill

The BOAT from Gibbet Hill to Farnham Lane provides a fast descent to Haslemere station