Directions

Nat Grid Ref: TQ126476

Location: Wotton is approximately 3 miles (5 Km) west of Dorking along the A25 (Guildford Road). The Wotton Hatch is in a very prominent position on that road.

Public Transport: Dorking is about 3 miles to the east and is well served by trains for London and the southeast. Also, there is a less frequent cross-country service through Gomshall (approx 1½ miles to the west). Bus services may not be frequent, particularly on a Sunday.

Map:

Route & Question Sheet

STARTERS
Answers can be seen at the front of the pub.

1.	Tardy landlord, perhaps, is said to confide:
2.	"I won't let the common people inside.
3.	But if you want to have a beer out here You'll get this brand where dregs can appear."

STAGE I
Leaving pub turn right along "Damphurst Lane", staying on right-hand side. On reaching "Wotton Hatch Cottages" cross over and take "Public Footpath" on right. Follow narrow path with fence and field on left. At corner of field turn sharp left, still keeping fence on left. Eventually, when hedge on right ends, walk onto adjoining track and proceed to a new double pointer "Public Footpath" sign visible over to right.

4.	Novice driver should look out When the road hog is about.
5.	Walkers' model a recent fashion.

STAGE II
Take the "Public Footpath" off to left, soon passing wooden post and climbing stile. Soon follow narrow path down steep descent. At bottom climb second stile and continue along main track (which merges from right here). On reaching "The Rookery", turn right along roadway and stay on it passing houses. Eventually keep left at grassy triangle to main road a few yards in front.

6.	Male escort.
7.	Designed to let the biker through. No slowing down like motors do?
8.	The sound of H2O In the autumn glow.
9.	A backward glance like Orpheus made So with the departed Eurydice stayed!

STAGE III
Cross over and take "Public Footpath" opposite. Stay on narrow pathway until eventually reaching road.

10.	The type of constituency that will decide The next election's winning side.
11.	Uncle Sam is waiting For this lowly rating.

STAGE IV
Cross over, turn left (ignoring "Springfield Road") and stay on right-hand side to T junction. Left here along "Balchins Lane". Continue past a pair of "Public Footpath" signs on right. Just after passing "Mead House" on left end stage at "Public Footpath" sign on right.

12.	Counted out When pests are about?
13.	Maybe the fox and the ant have tried To live together, side by side.
14.	Does this count as the greasy pole That Tony climbed to reach his goal?
15.	Remedial teaching need To bring them up to speed?

STAGE V
Right along "Public Footpath". Pass house on left and continue to roadway. Right. Stay on roadway, soon pass houses and continue to four pointer post on right. Straight ahead along wide track and proceed to three pointer post at fork.

16.	It's said to proclaim: "In debt I'll remain!"
17.	Crowd attending a sporting event Clearly displays a depressive bent.
18.	The makers know That Jack won't show!

STAGE VI
Take right fork, following track up slope. Stay on main track until house eventually appears on left. Straight on along track between barbed wire fences. Eventually pass trough on right and soon reach junction in track. Careful here. Leaving track, pivot sharp left and immediately walk uphill on diagonal path through field. At top descend with path to stile at field's edge.

19.	Glass pin seen And rather green.
20.	Place from which to hit a drive And where the novice will arrive.
21.	After scoring shots with backward screw Get set for some more, but not with a cue.

STAGE VII
Over stile. Follow undulating path through wood, eventually reaching second stile. Over this and climb uphill through field on wide grassy track. On reaching perimeter of graveyard veer right, very soon ignoring stile on left into graveyard. Now hug wall on left, then at next stile climb over and proceed to church board a few yards ahead. Right along roadway. End stage on reaching main road (opposite The Wotton Hatch).

22.	Fido forbears To use the stairs.
23.	As alpha-numeric could it be classed? Last is first and first is last.
24.	Her husband's shorts? Well, Posh may feel It's best to keep them down at heel.
25.	At which they say the Romans excel.

Young Walkers Questions

All stages and directions the same as the main walk above.

Throughout the walk:
	For each stage, write down all the things you see on each stage that begin with the I-Spy letter shown.
	How many stiles do you climb on this walk?

STAGE I I-Spy Letter = W
a.	When kids like you are having fun Just how slow are cars to run?

STAGE II I-Spy Letter = P
b.	On the pole, as you pass by, Three numbers totalling ten you spy.

STAGE III I-Spy Letter = M
c.	Where opposing players have always tried To return the ball to the other side.

STAGE IV I-Spy Letter = B
d.	One is big and one is small, Fluttering in formation, close to the wall.

STAGE V I-Spy Letter = T
e.	Those living here have on show The place where pussy was forced to go.

STAGE VI I-Spy Letter = S
f.	When December comes around They'll be taken from the ground And decorations hung all round.

STAGE VII I-Spy Letter = C
g.	Under the bishop's hat on the board There are two _ _ _ _ and also a _ _ _ _ _

Answers

1) "I-SO-LATE BEFORE OPENING" - on sticker on fan unit.
2) "Public Bar" - on side door of pub.
3) Flowers - growing in half barrel tubs outside pub.
4) "S-L-OW" - white lettering painted on road.
5) Stile of recent construction - near end of Stage 1.
6) "Squire" - on padlock at gate on left.
7) Road hump with flat section in middle - in road.
8) WATER-FALL - at house on right.
9) "Keep Left" ("Keep" reversed = Peek) - at grassy triangle at end of Stage 2.
Page down for the story of Orpheus and Eurydice.
10) Swing seat - in garden of house on right.
11) "AB-US" - on padlock at gate on right.
12) 10 Steps (Steps is an anagram of "pests") - on right of road.
13) "Hole Hill" - name of road at T Junction.
14) Telegraph pole with ten climbing rungs - on left just past "The Old Mill House".
15) "Slow Children" - on notice on "Public Footpath" sign at end of Stage 4.
16) WILL-OW - in garden of house on left.
17) Blue gate - at "Tanglebush Bungalow" on left.
18) "The Empty Box Company" - on notice near four-pointer post.
19) Saplings (anagram of "glass pin") - growing in field on right.
20) T-ROUGH - on right in field.
21) "STOP-COCK" ("STOP" reversed = POTS) - just past trough.
22) "Lift" - on wooden bar at stile.
23) "Z-ONE" - on padlock at gate just before church entrance.
24) "DB" - on flagstone at church entrance.
25) "40" (XL = 40 in Roman Numerals) - on post beside main road.

Young Walker Answers

a) "Children Playing 15 mph" - on notice at "Coast Hill Farm".
b) "631" - numbers on telegraph pole on left.
c) Tennis court - to left of pathway.
d) Two butterflies - on wall of house called "The Old Mill House".
e) Well - in garden of house on left.
f) Christmas trees - growing in field on left.
g) Two keys and one sword - on shield (below mitre) on board at church.

Notes on scoring:
One point for each thing seen that begins with the I-Spy letter applicable to that stage.
Five stiles are actually climbed. Ten points for the correct answer. Five points if the answer given was four or six.
Each correct answer to the clues scores ten points.

Orpheus and Eurydice

Moved by his heart-rending song, the Gods give Orpheus permission to lead his dead wife, Eurydice, out of the Underworld and back to the land of the living. There is one important condition: he must not glance back to make sure she is behind him until they have both reached the light of day...........

And now, as Orpheus retraced his steps, he had avoided all mischance, and following behind (for that condition Persephone had imposed) the regained Eurydice was nearing the upper world. Suddenly Orpheus, unwary in his love, was overwhelmed by anxiety - a reaction that could be forgiven, but did Hell know how to forgive?

He halted, and on the very verge of light, unmindful, alas, and vanquished in purpose, on Eurydice, now regained, looked back! In that instant all his toil was spilt like water, the ruthless tyrant's pact was broken, and thrice a peal of thunder was heard amid the pools of Avernus.

Eurydice cried out: 'What madness, Orpheus, what dreadful madness has brought disaster alike upon you and me, poor soul? See, again the cruel Fates call me back, and sleep seals my swimming eyes. And now, farewell! I am borne away, covered in night's vast pall, and stretching towards you strengthless hands, regained, alas! no more.'

She spoke, and straightway from his sight, like smoke mingling with thin air, vanished afar and saw him not again, as he vainly clutched at the shadows with so much left unsaid.

Nor did the ferryman of Orcus suffer him again to pass the barrier of the marsh. What could he do? Whither turn, twice robbed of his wife? With what tears move Hell? To what gods address his prayers? She indeed, already death-cold, was afloat in the Stygian barque.

(Extract from Virgil's Georgics, Book IV)