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Using Map References
In our field research we made a note of the map references of the key places we've visited to help you locate them when you're out and about. If you're not sure how to use map references we've included a guide here.
Wherever we've included a map reference based on the National Grid Reference System, either in the text or beneath a picture, it will appear like this:
GR: TQ016557
- The 'GR:' indicates that it is a Grid Reference.
- The first two letters, in this example 'TQ', refer to the Ordnance Survey's mapping system which divides the country into 100,000 metre squares. The Wey Valley falls under the 'SU' and 'TQ' squares.
- The first three numbers, in this example '016', refer to the map's eastings which are read from the grid along the top and bottom of the map. The '01' locates the large numbers on the grid from which the blue grid line runs vertically down the map. The '6' estimates the tenths along from this grid line shown as boxes along the scale.
- The last three numbers, in this example '557', follow the same process but along the map's northings. This is the scale running down both sides of the map and that provide the horizontal grid lines.
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ON RESEARCHING THE VALLEY, LEISURE ACTIVITIES, & VOLUNTEER WORK
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Furthering Your Own Research
Our researchers used a huge variety of third party sources to add to our own field observations and research, and if you are wanting to further your own research take some tips from our research team.
- There are hundreds of links provided to third party web sites from our LINKS & FURTHER SOURCES PAGE. And you'll find that many of those sites will also provide you with links to other sites they feel are relevant to their site content.
- Even in this electronic age the good old fashioned libraries are bursting at the seams with information. You just have to make the effort to find it, and the librarians will be more than helpful in pointing you in the right direction. Some libraries even have departments dedicated to providing local research information. We've provided a list of the major libraries along the valley in the LINKS & FURTHER SOURCES PAGE, and you'll find contact details there too.
- Browse through bookshops and support the work of the many writers specialising in local matters. Explore those shops selling second hand books too, and these include of course the charity shops. You can stumble across some real gems.
- Contact specialist organisations who have undertaken considerable research in their fields, and many have published detailed reports and books. There are numerous of such organisations that have researched the valley, including those dealing with archaeology, history and the environment. You'll find some of these in the LINKS & FURTHER SOURCES PAGE.
- Check out local papers. You may find articles highlighting something relevant to your line of enquiry, and there are often special features published. The Surrey Advertiser runs a regular feature on local history for example. If you want to reliably get hold of local papers outside of your own area libraries will usually hold copies relevant to their locality.
- Visit the area. Sounds obvious, but it's surprising what you can stumble across when you're out and about. Just as important is the art of conversation. We've had many good folk help us out and point us in the right direction, quite often when we were least expecting it too.
- Go to the many museums along the valley. All have excellent collections, reference libraries and helpful and knowledgeable staff. We've a contact list in the LINKS & FURTHER SOURCES PAGE.
- Contact the organisations involved in managing and maintaining the countryside, environment and buildings. Many have web sites but also welcome direct approaches if you're looking for specific information. The ones we've used in our research are listed in the LINKS & FURTHER SOURCES PAGE.
- Contact commercial organisations who are involved in the areas of research you are undertaking. As long as you're well prepared with exactly the information you're after and sound like you've got a worthy cause the chances are you may encounter a helpful member of staff. After all if you don't ask . . .
- Seats of learning are a hive of information, and whether they are a university, specialist college or school they are staffed by knowledgeable people whose job it is to inform. Naturally your approach needs to be sympathetic to the fact that they're there to teach their own students and are invariably pretty busy, but again if you don't ask you'll never know. The larger institutions have specialised libraries, which if you make a cap-in-hand approach and ask nicely they may just give you access.
- And don't forget the many voluntary organisations around. These include clubs whose members will be keenly interested in their chosen pastime. So for example if you want to find someone who knows about fish and their habitats, an experienced club fisherman will keep talking for hours!
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Visiting the Wey Valley for Leisure
Although we've taken a focused approach in presenting this web site to inform rather than act as a travel brochure, you'd be missing out big time if you didn't take time out to explore the valley purely for leisure and enjoyment. The central focus is of course the river, and there are a number of organisations established to help you find your way around and enjoy yourself.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
If you want to be lazy and get someone else to do the hard work try contacting the following:
- Alton Tourist Information Centre 7 Cross and Pillory Lane, Alton, Hampshire
Tel: 01420 88448
- Farnham Tourist Information Centre Council Offices, South Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7RN
Tel: (01252) 715109
- Guildford Tourist Information Centre 14 Tunsgate, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3QT
Tel: 01483 444333
- Haslemere Visitor Information Centre Haslemere Museum, 78 High Street, Haslemere, GU27 2LA.
Tel: 01428 645425
- Woking Visitor Information Centre Crown House, Crown Square, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6HR Tel:
01483 720103
BOAT HIRE & TRIPS
Please remember that ALL boat users on the Godalming Navigation and the Wey Navigation need to have a permit which can be obtained from the National Trust. If you're hiring a boat the boat house will already have the boat licensed. The rest of the river crosses private and municipal land and you will be trespassing if you use those stretches of water without permission, although that is largely a hypothetical situation as much of the river upstream wouldn't even take the draught of a canoe.
You can hire anything from a canoe up to a seventy-foot narrowboat for a short session or for a week or more if you want to really explore the waterway. The Wey Navigations connect to over 2,000 miles of navigable waterways in Britain so you could escape for months if bobbing about on the water is your secret obsession. These are the commercial organisations you can hire a boat from, and if you want someone else to do the work you can join trips along the river too.
- Byfleet Boat Club: hire out rowing boats. www.byfleetboatclub.co.uk/
- Farncombe Boat House: hiring all manner of craft by the hour or for longer periods. They have a nice tea room there too, and undertake repairs to private vessels. www.farncombeboats.co.uk
- Godalming Packet Boat Company: horse-drawn trips along the Godalming Navigation in the narrowboat Iona. www.horseboat.org.uk/
- Guildford Boat House: hiring all manner of craft by the hour or for longer periods. Also run regular trips along the river in the Sir Harry Stevens tour boat. www.guildfordboats.co.uk
If you want to do more than just occasionally mess about on the water, there are rowing clubs you can join to take advantage of their training, vessels and equipment. These are the ones we've encountered. If you know of any others please let us know so that we can include them here.
CANOE OUT-IN & TAKEOUT POINTS
The following are accessible points to the Wey Navigations for canoeists:
- Godalming: Godalming Wharf near Sainsbury's and Homebase (GR: SU975441). Drop-off only with no public carparks nearby.
- Shalford: Broadford by A248 bridge (GR: 997467). Drop-off only with no public carparks nearby.
- Guildford: Millmead Lock (GR: SU994492). Small public car park (pay and display) alongside.
- Send: Cartbridge (GR: TQ018564). At roadside.
- Pyrford: Pyrford Lock (GR: TQ054592). Pub car park requiring permission for non-pub use.
Allow for portage of locks approximately every mile. The Wey Navigation and Godalming Navigation are owned by the National Trust who issue permits.
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FISHING
The whole of the River Wey and Wey Navigations have strict controls over access for fishing. The fishing clubs work closely with the landowners over whose properties the waters flow and it is through them you'd need to secure a permit. If you know of any we've missed please let us know.
WALKING & CYCLING
The whole of the Wey Valley is an outstanding area renowned for the beauty of its countryside and for its accessibility. If you want to get away from the roads you will find hundreds of miles of public footpaths and bridleways to provide you access to huge tracts of countryside off the beaten track. Invest in an Ordnance Survey map. Their Explorer Map series are ideal for exploring and will guide you along the legal rights of way. If you don't want to invest in one many of the libraries have copies for loan, provided you're a member of course.
These are the maps we used in our research:
- Basingstoke, Alton & Whitchurch. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map. 144 (2004)
ISBN 0 319 23606 4
- Guildford & Farnham. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map. 145 (2004)
ISBN 0 319 23580 7
- Haslemere & Petersfield. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map. 133 (2004)
ISBN 0 319 23602 1
- Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell. Ordnance Survey Explorer Map. 160 (2004)
ISBN 0 319 23614 5
The National Trust owns the Godalming and Wey Navigations and allow unrestricted and free access to the twenty miles of towpath that run all the way from Godalming to Weybridge. Pedestrians and cyclists are welcomed, and for both users the well maintained towpath provides access to some of the most beautiful riverside scenery you'll find in Britain. Motorised vehicles and horseriding are forbidden.
There are a good many publications around both online and in print that provide well researched walks. These are the ones we've encountered. If you know of any others please let us know so that we may include them here.
- Farnham. Ten Town & Country Rambles. Chris Howkins (self-published) 1990
ISBN 0 9509105 6 2
- Guildford. 10 Town & Country Rambles. Chris Howkins (self-published) 1991
ISBN 0 9509105 8 9
- Surrey Nature Walks David Weller Countryside Books 2004
ISBN 1 85306 610 9
- Waterside Walks in Surrey. David Weller. Countryside Books 1999
ISBN 1 85306 563 3
- Walking Pages – guide to countryside walks
www.walkingpages.co.uk/
RIVERSIDE PUBS
What would life be like if you didn't have the opportunity to rest awhile next to the water enjoying a meal and a drink, and just having nothing more energetic to do than watch life pass by. These are the pubs that sit right next to the river. We haven't included the hundreds of others along the valley that may be as nice but don't give you that direct access to the water.
- The Manor Inn - Farncombe
Riverside hotel and pub with large restaurant and garden. Real ales and food. Children welcome. Temporary mooring for short-stay clientele.
GR: SU984450 Guildford Road, Farncombe, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3BX
Tel. 01483 427134
- Weyside Inn - Guildford
Formerly the Jolly Farmer, this large pub with conservatory and terrace has a small riverside frontage but no mooring. Real ales and food. Children welcome.
GR: SU996490 Shalford Road, Millbrook, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3XJ
Tel. 01483 568024
- The Britannia - Guildford
Just across a small public car park from the river this pub has had a string of different owners. Was for a short time a Scruffy Murphy’s pub. Patio to front. Some beer and food. Children only during the day. No direct mooring, but temporary mooring just downstream.
GR: SU995493 9 Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BE
Tel. 01483 572160
- The White House - Guildford
New pub right by Guildford Town Bridge with temporary moorings, riverside terrace and balcony. Real ale and meals served all day. Children welcome
GR: SU994494 8 High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU2 4AJ
Tel. 01483 302006
- The Rowbarge - Guildford
Garden by the river and moorings. Real ale and food. Children welcome.
GR: SU997512 7 Riverside, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1LW
Tel. 01483 573358
- The Anchor - Pyrford
Beautiful situation in wooded area on towpath by the canal and just downstream from Pyrford Lock. Canal theme with ample eating areas and large patio by the river. Real ales. Children welcome. Temporary mooring.
GR: TQ053593 Pyrford Lock, Ripley, Surrey GU23 6QW
Tel. 01932 342507
- The New Inn - Send
On towpath by the river with garden. Real ale and food. Children welcome. Barbecues sometimes in the summer months.
GR: TQ017561 Cart Bridge, Send Road, Send, Surrey GU23 7EN
Tel. 01483 762736
- The Pelican - Ham Moor, Addlestone
Attractive riverside pub with conservatory and garden running down to canalside. Real ale and food. Children welcome. Overnight and temporary moorings.
GR: TQ063645 9 Hamm Moor Lane, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 2SB
Tel. 01932 843032
- Old Crown - Weybridge
Rambling weather-boarded pub by the old course of the River Wey. Separate small garden by the river. Real ales and food. Children welcome until 21:00.
GR: TQ076656 83 Thames Street, Weybridge, Surrey KT13 8LP
Tel. 01932 842844
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Want to be a Volunteer?
Maintaining the beauty of the countryside and the wildlife that resides there doesn't all come down to natural forces. The impact we've made on the land around us has had some pretty negative effects and it takes the efforts of highly focused organisations with their bands of dedicated volunteers to keep disaster at bay. New volunteers are invariably a valuable commodity, so here we list those organisations we've come across that you could approach if you're interested in contributing to the welfare of our wildlife and in maintaining the natural beauty of the Wey Valley.
JUMP BACK INTO THE RIVER
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