The Serpent Trail
Click this link for the Official Guide to The Serpent Trail.
Roger has devised the stages for this trail. Currently the following stages have been walked or may be walked in 2021. Due to Coronavirus all future dates are provisional.
| Date | Section of Trail | Distance Miles |
| 14/05/2021 | Serpent 1 Haslemere Circular via Black Down: The head of the serpent. Picnic only but possible pub in Haslemere at end. Meet outside Haslemere Station 10:50. Train Wimbledon 09:35, change Woking arrive 10:08, depart 10:13 (Platform 5), OR direct train from Clapham Junction (Platform 9) 09:52. | 7.9 |
| 16/10/2020 | Serpent 2 Haslemere to Liphook: Same train as Serpent 1, but buy a return to Liphook (not Haslemere) and a different way out of Haslemere to rejoin The Serpent, then flattish until we climb steeply to Marley Common and other commons (coffee stop: no café at a nice pool). Dropoff before lunch after 5.7 miles into Liphook by road but walk continues to lunchtime pub The Links Arms 0.3 mile from station. | 7.5 |
| 23/10/2020 | Serpent 3 Liphook to Liss: Same train as Serpent 1, but buy a return to Liss. Return to The Serpent and enjoy the autumnal colours on the way to the pub stop (on old A3) at Rake. Finally descend to walk along Rake Hanger and up again to Hill Brow before descent by road to Liphook Station (where Phil’s walk was going to start next Friday). | 7.3 |
| 28/05/2021 | Serpent 4 Liss to Henley (A286): Get bus 38 at 11:44 and get off at The Jolly Drovers, Hill Brow, Liss. where we start by having lunch (no pub on way)! Walk down and across much remote countryside, including Woolbeding Common, until we arrive at the 70 bus stop above Henley on the A286, returning to Haslemere Station. Buy a return to Petersfield. | 8.5 |
| 09/07/2021 | Serpent 5 Henley (A286) to Petworth: Buy return to Haslemere. Get 70 bus outside station and get off at Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley on A286. Walk through woods and quiet lanes, then into Petworth Park (picnic). Optional pub or cafe in Petworth then bus 1 to Midhurst Bus Station (ice cream break) for bus 70 back to Haslemere. | 7.8 |
| 02/07/2021 | Serpent 6 Petworth to Fittleworth: Buy return to Pulborough. Get bus 1 to Petworth and back from Fittleworth (late lunch at cafe) | 7.5 |
| 16/07//2021 | Serpent 7: Fittleworth to Petworth: Buy return to Pulborough, arrive 10:51. A suitable train leaves East Croydon 09:53 (Clapham Junction 09:42) Bus 1 to Fittleworth, Hesworth Common then short walk across common to Lower Fittleworth. Through more commons to Heath End (A285) where we leave The Serpent and walk north to lunch at The Badgers, then by fields to Petworth (bus 1 back) | 7.9 |
| 23/07/2021 | Serpent 8: Heath End Garage to Cocking Causeway: A suitable train leaves Sutton 09:54, change at Horsham arrive 10:45, depart 11:01.for Chichester arrive 11:37, then 99 bus stop on South Street, depart 12:15 (time for quick coffee!). Alight at Heath End Garage where trail crosses A285 then long walk over mainly commons for afternoon pub at The Greyhound. Leave for scenic 60 bus ride at xx:09 or xx:39 back to Chichester. To save changing at Horsham, you might buy a Not Via London return rather than a Via Leatherhead return for a few pounds extra. | 8.0 |
| 30/07/2021 | Serpent 9: Cocking Causeway to Nyewood: Late start and late finish but cafe lunch at Aylings Garden Centre, Trotton. A suitable train leaves Sutton 09:54, change at Horsham arrive 10:45, depart 11:01.for Chichester arrive 11:37, then VERY QUICK TRANSFER to 60 bus stop on South Street, depart 11:45. Alight at The Greyhound pub, Cocking Causeway, just outside Midhurst and walk through commons and woods to lunch across the A272. Recross to leave the commons and follow the trail on quiet fields and roads to Nyewood Green for scenic 54 bus ride at 17:04 back to Chichester to get the 18:09. To save changing at Horsham, you might buy a Not Via London return rather than a Via Leatherhead return for a few pounds extra. | 8.0 |
| 13/08/2021 | Serpent Final: Nyewood to Petersfield: Buy return to Petersfield. A suitable train leaves Clapham Junction 10:27, change Woking (a.10:45, d.10:55). Get 54 bus o/s station at 11:45 and alight at Nyewood, The Green. A relatively flat walk through mainly agricultural land before arriving at houses, then Petersfield Common (optional stop at cafe on corner of large lake). Lunch in Petersfield at the Red Lion (Wetherspoons). | 5.5 |