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Walk no.: 4
 Submitted by: Justin Dix with Leo, Josie and Jordi
Title of walk: John Donne's Riverside
Location of walk: Ripley, Surrey
How did the writer discover, or come to be walking in this area?: 'After living in the area for nearly fifteen years and having lived a couple of miles away in the village of Send, we went for a walk one afternoon on some backwaters and byways between Ripley and Pyrford and were enchanted at what we found.'
What map could I use for this walk: A surrey atlas showing the footpaths around Ripley will do but an OS map always gives more interest.
Is the walk linear or circular?: Linear
How many stopping-off points will there be?: 6 or 7
 Introduction: The time of year when we did this walk was really important as it was mid february and the light was crisp and clear as if the still short pre-spring days were trying to get as much out of the sun as they could.
The Walk:
You start from Ripley Village Green and head north out of the village, following the wey and ending up at the Anchor Pub in Pyrford.
Click on each of the photographs to see the full-size image
 Stopping-off point no. 1
Walk through the woods, you cross over a little brook and come out onto a path. This winds its way up to the river way, crossing a lovely bridge over the river by a golf course at one point. It is almost impossible to do a Surrey walk without encountering at least one golf course.
 Stopping-off point no. 2
This house for me it epitomises something about Surrey - so much wealth and so many beautiful buildings, but somehow untouchable as well. This picture contians such a tangle of fence wire, thicket and branch that it suggests that the landed gentry have enlisted nature in the task of keeping most of us at bay; we are allowed to watch but not touch or take part.
 Stopping-off point no. 3
I think the changing fortunes of Britain's waterways also tell a story. What were once highways of slow but steady moving canal barges, where men and women and horses toiled for days to lay the foundations of an industrial revolution, are now managed for leisure.
 Stopping-off point no. 4
I always get a sense of the history when I do a walk like this. You can see it in the lock keeper's cottages. This house tells a story. I love the brick arch above the windows. These working buildings always remind me of Three Men in a Boat and the fantastic story of the Pineapple Tin (see below for the link to the story).
 Stopping-off point no. 5
This house dating from the 1700s is allegedly connected to John Donne. He did live and write in these parts but died in 1634.
 Stopping-off point no. 6
A beautiful expanse of lawn, the slightly poignant tree stumps, the absence of people. Everything says look at me, I'm lovely but empty. It's the wealth of Surrey, the intrinsic beauty with the hollow centre waiting to be filled.
 Stopping-off point no. 7
This is the old mill building and I love it because it is once again an old working building that has a history, a sense of a story built into it.
Links
The Read the story of the Pineapple Tin (from chapter 12 of Jerome K. Jerome's 'Three Men In A Boat) | | | | | | Have you been on this walk? Add your comments:
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