[1] To start the walk go towards the visitor centre (back towards the pub) and turn right on to the towpath so you are walking with the canal on your left.
(A) This is a restored section of the canal and a length of the Wey South Path. The Wey & Arun is part of London’s “Lost Route to the Sea” and is being restored by the Wey & Arun Canal Trust (WACT). The visitor centre is open on Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and at weekends for much of the year. It is well worth a visit if you have the time.
Keep to the towpath as it meanders through trees and fields, ignoring any crossing paths until you reach Drungewick aqueduct.
You will pass locks and winding holes. There are information boards that explain how they work and how they have been restored. Look out for dragonflies, herons and the aquamarine flash of the kingfisher! There are lots of benches to stop and watch the world – or the trip boats – go by.
(B) Drungewick aqueduct is a new structure that carries the canal over the River Lox. The information boards give details about its construction.
[2] Soon after the aqueduct, go through a gate alongside Drungewick Lane Canal Bridge to reach a minor road. Turn left along the road (Note that the Wey South path turns right here, away from the bridge. To follow a bit more of the canal there’s a permissive path over the bridge and on the right).
The road passes Roger Dimmick Lane, which leads to the Drungewick boat slipway. It is named after a WACT benefactor.
After a slight climb take footpath on left at Drungewick Hill Farm.
(C) The farm breeds Charolais cattle, which you will have already seen by the canal and will see as you walk through the farm.
Walk through farmyard and take the right hand drive with buildings on left and field on right. Keep ahead under telegraph wires following the signed path. On coming to a pond, take signed path to the right. After the pond, turn right at 3 way sign and then left onto a track at T junction. In the woods, when track bears left, take footpath on right. Sign not visible at first but it is there. Keep on path through woods. Look out for deer. Follow path as it emerges from the woods and goes alongside a field in order to reach a minor road.
[3] Turn right then cross the minor road – Loxwood Road - to a lay-by. Take bridleway in left hand corner of lay-by and continue ahead, ignoring footpath to left, until turn left at T junction. Soon come to footpath sign where turn right with fence on left and soon after a field on right. Follow footpath signs, keeping to field edge and turning right just before a lake. Take the opportunity to look at the lake as it is best seen from here. At a track T junction turn left to go along side of lake (not easy to see here as the hedge is overgrown). Ignore first sign but turn right at next onto bridleway.
[4] At junction of 4 paths (with a Byway open to all traffic or “Boat” straight ahead) turn left to join the Sussex Border Path.
(D) The Sussex Border Path follows the land border of Sussex. It is not signed here though there are plans to get it all properly signed with new discs. There are finger posts signs further on.
Keep on path through woods to reach farm buildings and lane. Stay on lane to arrive at the hamlet of Alfold Bars with the welcome sight of the Sir Roger Tichborne Public House ahead.
(E) The pub has a large garden with lovely views. It dates from the 19th century and is named after the lost heir to a family estate in Hampshire. The Tichborne case was a legal cause célèbre that captivated Victorian England in the 1860s and 1870s. It concerned the claims to be the missing heir to the Tichborne fortune by an individual sometimes referred to as Thomas Castro or as Arthur Orton but usually termed "the Claimant". He failed to convince the courts, was convicted of perjury and served a long prison sentence. The Tichbourne saga was made into a feature film. Please see Additional Information for more details.
Cross the road - the B2133. Turn left if not going to the pub - or right on leaving pub - to walk on the grass verge. Take care as there is no pavement and the verge is narrow.
[5] Turn right into a lane, Oakhurst Drive, to re-join the Border path (it is well signposted). Keep on lane and when it ends, go through gate to left and follow track. As you will see, WACT is working nearby and have put hard core down to make access for vehicles easier. Follow the track until it arrives back at the canal. This length of the canal is not yet restored and is not in water. To the right, you can see work on the site of Gennets Lock and there is an information panel.
[6] Turn left to follow the canal towpath back to the start. (F) You are now back on the Wey South Path that runs from Guildford to Amberley. As you approach Loxwood there are restored locks and other structures to see and more water in the canal. At Loxwood you can continue on the towpath to pass under the road bridge or go up to the road, arriving at the Onslow Arms Public House.