Directions

Nat Grid Ref: TQ248531

Location:

From junction 8 of the M25 take the A217 north towards Sutton. Immediately after the first roundabout take the turning on the left called Stubbs Lane. At the crossroads turn left and the pub is on the left.

Coming from Sutton south along the A217, as you enter Lower Kingswood, there is a pub on the left hand side called The Fox. On the right hand side, on the corner of Buckland Road, is a church. Turn right here and the Mint Arms is on your left just after the crossroads.

Public Transport:

The nearest station is Reigate. Taxi is the only way to get to the pub (about 3 miles), as there are no buses on Sundays.

Map:

Walk Information:

The walk is longer than normal and parts of it are very steep and can be slippery if wet. This walk is not suitable for those pushing buggies or who are not very sure footed. An alternative route is available that avoids the more difficult parts but still takes in the magnificent views and most of the interesting sights for anybody who would like to do the majority of the walk and is not too bothered about the league points.

The Mint Arms is open all day Sunday, has a large eating area and car park and the beer garden has a well stocked children's play area. The pub serves both hot and cold food on Sundays but does not take advance bookings so arrive early or be prepared to wait if they are busy.

Route & Question Sheet

ORGANISER'S NOTES
This walk is based upon The Lord Of The Rings, although knowledge of the book is not required (or even beneficial) to answer the questions.
Page down for the alternative route that avoids climbing a steep hill.

STARTERS
In front of the pub.
NOTE: the answer to Question 1 was missing on the day of the walk.

1.	The multi coloured voids abound, The fellowship of rings, Joined together over ground, Among the children's things.
2.	Fact-finding looking begs, Accommodation, no rent paying, A polo pony should have legs, Not in the place where we are staying.
3.	Luminous equine representations, Lucky when caught in this light, Shadowy shoddy imperceptions, A quadruped has left this sight.
4.	Initially it seems these four, A yard of ale's no longer taken, A strong wine is in store, Along side an urge for bacon.

STAGE I
Turn left out of pub and walk up the road. Continue straight ahead when it becomes a bridleway. Just before car park turn right down bridleway. Cross the road and continue along bridleway until EOS. EOS1 is finger post that reads Banstead Heath and Margery Lane.

5.	Ring comes past first to save a life, Ring before the second is the power giver, Under pressure it's pumped with strife, The Opposite of Major River.
6.	What he wrote tows the line, Communication can be spied, In dark Mordor they would be fine, The note unscrambled you see he lied.
7.	Fry but let transmogrify, Entrapped within a dark cocoon, The worm has turned to touch the sky, To live and die all too soon.

STAGE II
Turn left on tarmac road. Cross M25 and ignore all roads and paths to the left and right until where bridleway crosses road, turn left through three metal posts filled with concrete, towards fence. At fence bear left. EOS2 Gate with notice to close quietly on it.

8.	You need not take the action, The sign is quite impossible, It hints at losing traction, In a non-musical triangle.
9.	The jolly Hobbit with his friend Peri, Joined the trees in battle strove, With Ents to Isengard went Merry, You'll find he lingers near the grove.
10.	The magic turn has brought about, The access from the inside out. No knobs and knockers you'll have to shout, Entrance or exit there is a doubt.

STAGE III
Walk through gate and follow main path next to trees along top of hill. EOS End of barbed wire fence before you reach the metal gate.

11.	On the sly web a fish is named, 2nd fiddle signs the deal. On Colley Hill he has been framed, The fish has now become a seal.
12.	Sort, Divine, Winnow, Classify, Aloft what does it show? At twelve the aperture roundly, Weeps in no doubt open woe.
13.	More than enough you cry! Tug your forelocks, who irrigate. No chariot shall be let by, Thou shalt not pass Posiedon's gate.

STAGE IV
NOTE: Path is chalk, gets very steep, and can be very slippery if wet. Page down for an alternative route.
Bear right across grass down hill towards finger post and continue down hill towards trees, joining track as you descend. Ignore the steps to the left and go through the gate. Keep to the left and ignore any paths leading off to the right. EOS is the hump across the road at the junction of paths where they join the road at the bottom of the hill.

14.	Quality runs with some refinement, The ship has gone adrift, But the master gave a present, Such a green and pleasant gift.
15.	The long abandoned battlements, The knights of old should shout, There are no gates or watch towers, To keep the rascals out.
16.	After working at a desk, Send message to read the news, Read the first with the rest, And you will not be confused.

STAGE V
Take the bridleway on the left between the brick walls. When the bridleway reaches the road turn left, keeping well to the side on this busy road. About 30 metres on your left take the unmade bridleway that slopes gently up hill keeping the fence on your right. EOS is the corner of the wooden fence on your left at the cross roads at the top of the hill.

17.	The Wizard reaps time and ill, Climatic elements shall dictate, A house for Mr. Underhill, We at her van elucidate.
18.	In company I lose direction, They say, "Young man go west", Carved out upon this erection, Gone North I say with jest.
19.	Bow before the ceramic wall, Ever should we place long call, You mashed DLT - restricted! Mend it by being sure handed.

STAGE VI
Turn left along tarmac road and pass houses on left. Follow this path through woods. EOS is gate across path as you emerge from the woods.

20.	Blind man consulting with his orb, Overwhelmed by what he sees, The four corners of the globe, Indicated by the breeze.
21.	A Hobbit hole beneath the ground, A hollow in the soil, Among the trees it can be found, You cannot see the spoil.
22.	Pat puss & end for numbered beast, Stop locker and keep safe the purse, The numerals have been unleashed, No Irish American in reverse.

STAGE VII
Pass through the gate. Follow path along top of hill past concrete structure keeping fence on your right. Go through trigger gate (Stage 4) on right and follow tarmac road straight ahead. EOS/EOQW is at metal barrier by bridleway sign next to car park.
Continue straight ahead, through 4 white posts, along bridleway back to The Mint Arms.

23.	After the great battle date, The God of the underworld will show here, What spells take 9 from 8? And make a whole world disappear?
24.	The deadly sins are counted with the wonders of a world gone by. Between them all they have the key when added to the seas of rye. Cast through the stain, the fellowship are seated, From within the view is seen, from without it is repeated.
25.	The Iron Lady will not bend, See the city in the east, At last a journey without end, In the year The Challenger deceased.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
Follow route above to the end of STAGE III.
Continue along top of hill with the fence on your left towards a concrete structure and gate leading into the woods. Go through the gate and follow path until you reach some houses on the right hand side. At the cross roads you have reached the end of STAGE V.
Follow route from the beginning of STAGE VI (retracing your steps along the path you have just walked) to the end.

Young Walkers Questions

All stages and directions are as the walk above.

OVERALL
Bonus Clue: Along the walk you will see sets of three steps next to the route. Most of them are before and after gates and at motorway bridges. Can you work out what they are for?

STARTERS
NOTE: the answers to Question 1, 2 & 3 were missing on the day of the walk.
1. What house can you slide out of?
2. How many bench and table sets are in the garden?
3. What is able to put out fires?
4. Can you ring this number if the alarm stops working?
5. What is not permitted in the garden?

STAGE I
Bonus Clue: Look out for fire hydrant signs on this stage and write down the numbers.
6. Has this farm had a knock?
7. This woman has given her name to a road. What is her name?
8. What do you think made the scratches on the trees?
9. For shooting or looking. What can they be?
10. Find the number 675.

STAGE II
Bonus Clue: Look out for fire hydrant signs on this stage and write down the numbers.
11. Would you get scratched here?
12. According to the picture, can you work out what the Coney part of the house called Coneybury means?
13. Find the word "CLEFF" where it helps you cross a major road.
14. What flag is on the large white posts along this stage?
15. Although this is yellow it could give you courage.
16. An aged bird.
17. What way are you walking?
18. What are you asked to do with the gate?

STAGE III
Bonus Clue. In what direction are you looking at the view down hill and beyond, N,S,E or W?
19. What can get a drink here?
20. On the small wooden gate on your left you fill find a padlock. What form of transport is on it?
21. Their name sounds like they are sad when they ring.
22. What can you not do in front of these gates?

STAGE IV
Bonus Clue. What type of rock is this hill made of?
23. Can you have half a sit down here?
24. When was this part of Colley Hill given to Reigate?
25. Could you dangle a plane here?
26. How many years does the trail marker indicate?

STAGE V
Bonus Clue: Look out for fire hydrant signs on this stage and write down the numbers.
27. How many bird boxes can you spot?
28. Who is getting high?
29. Which way is this house going?
30. How fast are cars allowed to go up the hill and how fast down?
31. How many reddish steps are in the garden to your right?
32. What is the name of the very hard farm?

STAGE VI
Bonus Clue: Look out for fire hydrant signs on this stage and write down the numbers.
33. When was the fort built and what was it for?
34. What animals are kept in the place in the east where soldiers live?
35. A King in his home abroad.
36. What animals are grazing?

STAGE VII
Bonus Clue: Look out for fire hydrant signs on this stage and write down the numbers.
37. When was the lookout seat built?
38. What does the National Trust ask you to avoid?
39. Which road number goes to Sutton?
40. Would you play in this park?

Answers

1.	4 multi-coloured blocks joined together by a tunnel in the children's play area.
2.	Coat of arms on the pub sign has the letters FLB on it. The pub is a free house and a polo is a type of mint.
3.	Horse shoes (shod) on light outside pub. Horse shoes are said to be lucky.
4.	4 initials, SDWC, on an access cover on the ground outside the pub. The other words on the cover read: Meter (no yard of ale); Needham (urge for bacon); Stockport (store wine).
5.	Ring comes past first to save a life, (water ring), Ring before the second is the power giver (ring main). Sign indicating a water main (main water = major river)
6.	Anagram: The Two Towers (wrote tows the). The note unscrambled. Two communication towers can be seen on the horizon.
7.	Anagram: Butterfly (Fry but let) changes as if by magic (transmogrify) from a caterpillar (worm) into something that can touch the sky.
8.	Skidding for 1 mile sign on M25.
9.	Merry Wood Grove road sign.
10.	A door (which is normally found inside) is used as a gate on the left of the path towards the stage end. It could be an entrance or exit as passing through it you remain outside.
11.	Anagram: Byelaws (sly web a) on the reverse of the sign for Colley Hill names an RJ Guppy as the Assistant Under Secretary of state as signing them and he leaves his seal which is represented on this copy by the word seal.
12.	Sutton District Water Company (Sort, Divine, Winnow, Classify) tower has a round window (Weeps In No Doubt Open Woe) at the top that has 12 panes of glass in it.
13.	4 padlocks on the vehicular gate to the above tower.
14.	Quality Runs With Some Refinement (Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment). The 5th Battalion was commanded by Captain (ship's master) Simpson who donated this part of Reigate Hill according to the memorial at the top of the steep chalk path.
15.	Large brick wall on the left hand side in the fashion of castle battlements. It starts abruptly with no clear purpose of keeping anything out, as it would be possible to simply walk round.
16.	After working at a desk (Post Office), Send message to read the news (Telegraph). Access cover on the right as you descend the hill.
17.	We-at-her van-e (lucidate) in the shape of the grim reaper holding a scythe and an hourglass on the gate of the house that is built into the side of the hill. Climatic elements (wind) will dictate which way it points.
18.	Stone marker post just to the left of the start of the bridleway after the short stretch on the road. Inscription reads: ESWCo. Swap the abbreviation for company for the letter N and you have the 4 major points of the compass.
19.	Access cover with "Ductile" "ESWPlc" embossed on it Anagram: "Thomas Dudley" (You mashed DLT) - restricted = "Ltd". "Grip Fix" = mend it by being sure handed.
20.	Weather vane with a man without eyes playing bowls (bowled over).
21.	Underground bunker in trees on the right almost opposite the stile leading in to the fort.
22.	On gate on right almost at EOS there is a padlock with writing on it that states: "US & For Pats Pend" (anagram: Pat puss & end for). It is made by Prestolock (anagram: Stop locker). It is a combination lock that also gives a US Pat No (No Irish American in reverse).
23.	The representation of the Solar System on the ceiling of the circular look out seat only shows 8 of the 9 planets. This is because the seat was built in 1909 and Pluto (the god of the underworld) was only discovered as the furthest planet from the sun in 1930. The Great War (WW1) happened in between these dates (1914-1918)
24.	The deadly sins (7) [Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed, Sloth] are added to the wonders of the ancient world (7) [The Great Pyramid of Giza, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, The Colossus of Rhodes, The Lighthouse of Alexandria] and the seas of rye (7) [The Seven Seas of Rye from the Album "Queen II", EMI 1974] to give you 21 which is the key to the door. The stained glass window on the house called "Pilgrims Halt" depicts 21 pilgrims seated around a table but the name of the house is read backwards (repeated) on the window when viewed from outside.
25.	Mrs Thatcher would not perform a u-turn, which is also a stupid thing to attempt on a motorway. I am indicating a sign on a gantry over the M25 that reads "Croydon" (a new city east of where you are standing). All the other directions are to places other than the M25 (a circular motorway without end) which was opened by Margaret Thatcher in 1986, the same year that The Challenger space shuttle exploded.

Young Walker Answers

OVERALL
Bonus Clue: They are for horse riders to get on and off to open the gates and in case their horse is scared about crossing the motorway.

STARTERS
1. Tree house slide.
2. Seven.
3. Teddy bear fire engine ride.
4. 0181 642 8996 - No! It is in the old format for outer London before the "Big Number" change.
5. Dogs due to Health & Safety.

STAGE I
Bonus Clue: 4/2 on bridleway part of road leading from pub to car park.
6. Dents Farm.
7. Margery Wood Lane.
8. Horses.
9. Tower hides in the field to the left of the bridleway.
10. On telegraph pole opposite Laurel Cottage.

STAGE II
Bonus Clue: 100/1 outside Mogador Lodge.
11. House named Thorny Moor.
12. Picture of rabbits on gate.
13. CLEFF A6 on bolts on metal joints where bridge over M25 joins the road.
14. The cross of St. George - The English flag.
15. Yellow grit bin on left just over the M25.
16. The Old Pheasantry sign pointing down Merry Wood Grove.
17. The North downs Way.
18. Close it quietly.

STAGE III
Bonus Clue. South.
19. Cattle trough on side of hill to your right.
20. ABUS padlock
21. Bluebells in wood on left.
22. Park. No parking sign on gates to water tower.

STAGE IV
Bonus Clue. Chalk.
23. Bench end next to path.
24. Feb 1910 according to memorial to Captain Simpson.
25. Hanger House on right.
26. Millennium Trail Marker at EOS.

STAGE V
Bonus Clue: 100/2 at EOS
27. 2 on large trees and 2 on house.
28. Sign saying "Jordan Heights".
29. "Sideways"
30. 40mph up, 30mph down.
31. 3
32. Rock Farm.

STAGE VI
Bonus Clue: 6/2 on left over stile.
33. 1890. To guard against invasion from the South.
34. Cats at East Fort Cattery.
35. Sign reading "Crown Castle International" on building near communications towers.
36. Sign near stile saying that sheep are grazing.

STAGE VII
Bonus Clue: 4/2 on right before M25 bridge and 100/1 a little further on.
37. 1909
38. Leaving litter, lighting fires, damaging trees or plants.
39. A217 on gantry sign across M25.
40. No. It is a car park.