The Wey & Arun Canal - from the Wey to Pallingham
From Linnersh Wood to Run Common
Evidence of the canal's course is immediately obvious beyond Linersh. Although the route is on private property, it can be easily seen from the Guildford - Cranleigh cycle route. Many other parts of the canal en route to Run Common and Rowly can also be seen from this cycleway, which is actually the former railway from Guildford to Horsham. Apart from a short bit at Run Common and from near Rowly to Elmbridge, to view the canal one must in fact use the cycle route as the towpath is no longer available for the public
The south east extremity of the Linersh Wood estate as viewed from the Guildford - Horsham railway route. The Wey and Arun is in the trees immediately following the estate houses
A little further south east of Linersh towards Birtley the railway and canal run parallel with the canal seen a considerable distance below the railway alignment. The picture shows canal and railway boundary posts. Surprisingly the canal itself is on a shelf above the valley floor, and it clings to the hillsides for a considerable distance. One unsung fact about the Wey and Arun Junction canal is that it has a quite spectacular route between Linersh and Run Common, and it was a cleverly surveyed line that enabled it to tackle the many hills and valleys on the way
View of the canal at Lordshill. The line of trees in the distance clearly demonstrate that the canal is on the side of a hill. The railway line is much further up
The Wey and Arun Junction continues to climbs out of the valley and upon reaching Fanesbridge there are splendid views of the valley falling away to the north west, with Foxborough, Hurst and Chinthurst Hills promient landmarks. Unfortunately the enitre route is on private land so one has to make do with the adjacent railway. At Fanesbridge there's a path off the railway route which leads north east to Fanesbridge cottages. Its virtually impossible to see that a canal ever existed here, but careful analysis of the land will reveal that its former alignment indeed cross the fields as it made its way south eastwards. Two farm gates and a depression mark the site of Fanesbridge lock, which must have offered spectacular views to the north west. I can only think of one fairly similar location offering such a splendid prospect on the entire southern waterways system and that is/was the location at Honor Oak on the former Croydon canal
The canal route approaching Fanesbridge was in a cutting here, which has been filled in. The farm track follows the former alignment. Hurst Hill is on the right and part of Chinthurst Hill can be seen middle distance
The site of Fanesbridge lock is marked by these gates. Immediately beyond on the left traces of the canal can be seen, and it can be observed how it is clinging to the hillside as it makes it was south eastwards
The canal is a depression on the right in the trees and the ground falls away from it to the north east
Further east near Rushett Common the canal parallels the Guildford - Horsham railway/cycleway again for a considerable distance. This time both routes are on a level
The canal as a grassy depression with the railway alignment coming in from the right
After the cycle/rail route crosses a farm track traces of the canal disappear. This view from the rail/cycle route shows a field looking towards Run Common. The Wey and Arun in fact ran across this field from where the photographer is standing, towards the tall cone shaped tree to the left of the houses in the distance
Next is the section towards Elmbridge
Bramley Linersh Run Common Elmbridge Fast Bridge Tickners Heath Fir Tree Copse Sidney Wood
Gennets Wood Devils Hole Loxwood Drungewick Newbridge Lordings Pallingham The Feeder Map