Wey Valley Navigation

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Took a day off from the Thames and decided to cycle down the navigable stretch of the Wey Valley Navigation.

National Trust

This is part of their portfolio. If you want to take any craft down, you have to register with them on their website.

I did check the prices out and considered including a trip down as part of the Thames navigation I’m making at the moment on my narrowboat.

When I checked the prices, the attractions, other boaters opinions and the various media available (photo’s, videos), it didn’t seem worth the asking price.

Cycling

However is free. The Wey has a ‘towpath’ alongside for most of the sections. Towpath is a loosely fitting term, often it’s no more than a dusty footpath across a field.

I wanted to see the navigable extent of the river, and what I had missed, potentially.

From Walton to Godalming, the final turning point, was 21 miles. Only coming off the path to go around intersections in the towns of Woking and Guildford.

It took roughly 2 1/4 hours on the way down.

Looking at the canal, I’m pretty glad I didn’t pay the extra. It’s shallow and although it goes through some nice countryside, it’s not something I’m not used to already.

The thought of coming all the way down just to come back again would have been…. a waste of time… and more importantly, money. At £44 per 24 hours? Er… No….

Godalming

When I got to Godalming, I had a little look around town on my bike and opted to go into the ‘Star’ which according to the sign outside, is an award winning pub for Greene King pub chain.

The prices weren’t bad. I got a scampi fries and a pint of Amstel £18. Didn’t break the bank and the meal itself was very nice.

Once I’d sorted my self out and had a nice sit down, I took the roads back. Much quicker through Woking and along some of the Basingstoke canal, but along made up towpaths where I could get some speed up.

My Garmin tells me moving time was 4.25 hours for 45 miles.

Not bad.

Took a shower after getting back and cooked some food. Tonight I visited the other pub on the waterfront in Walton, The Swan.

It was quite busy. Thursday…. getting a bit of a weekend feel… had a pint of Aspel and sat outside overlooking the river.

Here’s a pic.

Tomorrow, on through Teddington lock and down onto the tidal Thames.

Until next time.