The Spotted Cow and Bourne Wood

The Spotted Cow and Bourne Wood is a 6.6 kilometer loop trail located near Farnham, Surrey, England that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips.

Distance: 6.6 km Elevation Gain: 174 m Route Type: Loop

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A circular pub walk from the Spotted Cow in Lower Bourne, a wonderful rural pub with great ales and wines, a varied menu and which welcomes dogs and children. The walk heads out through narrow wooded lanes to reach Bourne Wood, before passing through the woodland to reach the Rural Life Centre and then returning through the heath, forest and quiet village lanes. The walk has several climbs and descents throughout and most of the paths are unmade so can be uneven and quite muddy in winter and after periods of rain. There are no stiles and just a few gates. Some sections of the woodland and heath are grazed for conservation by rare breed cattle so take care with dogs. Approximate time 1.5 to 2 hours.

Spotted Cow to Dene Lane
From the pub car park, go back onto Bourne Grove and turn right. Follow the wooded lane with a shallow stream running to the right. At the T-junction at the end of the road, turn left onto the dead end branch of Vicarage Hill. Follow this dirt track climbing steadily uphill. At the top you will reach a T-junction with Lodge Hill Road. Turn right along the pavement and after just a few yards, immediately after the property called Sweet Croft, turn left along the enclosed footpath signed to Old Man's Hill. Follow this footpath along a fairly level section and then continue ahead with care as it begins to descend steeply downhill. At the T-junction within the path, turn left and follow the path as it swings right to join a tarmac drive. Ahead you will meet a T-junction with Dene Lane.
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Dene Lane to Forest Access Lane
Cross over Dene Lane and go straight ahead onto the public bridleway opposite, a wide forest path with shallow steps climbing uphill. You are now entering Bourne Wood. The woodland is managed by the Forestry Commission and some areas of it have been purchased by the RSPB to restore as heathland for species such as the nightjar, Dartford warbler, woodlark and tree pipit. Since 2000, Bourne Wood has been used frequently as a filming location for movies including Gladiator, The Golden Compass, several Harry Potter films and War Horse. At the top of the steps you will meet a junction of paths, go straight ahead on the sandy public bridleway. At the next junction of paths, take the second left, ignoring the first left which is a narrower grass track. After a little distance you will meet a T-junction with a main forest track. Turn right and follow the track heading downhill and then swinging to the right. You will come to a crossroads with the tarmac access lane for the forest. If you glance to the left, you will see the small roadside car park for use by forest visitors.
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Forest Access Lane to Rural Life Centre
Go straight ahead and at the next cross roads (with a wooden sign post) go straight ahead. Immediately afterwards keep straight ahead again over a forest track and fire break, passing by the marker post with blue arrows. A few paces later at the minor junction go ahead again and follow this path as it swings to the right. As you begin to climb you will reach a gate ahead of you. Pass through the gate and note that this area is sometimes grazed by cattle for conservation so take care with dogs. Continue ahead and over the brow of the hill and you will then reach a junction with a wide sandy track. Turn right and follow the track with open heathland over to the left. At the crossroads, just after a bench and fire beaters rack, turn left heading gradually downhill. Look out for a minor crossroads, marked with a small wooden post. Turn right here passing a small oak tree and bench. Pass through a kissing gate further along and turn left onto the wide fenced track. At the end of the track fork right down the narrow path to reach the main road. Turn right along the grass verge taking care of oncoming traffic. After just around 100 yards you will come to the entrance of the Rural Life Centre on the right.
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Rural Life Centre to Corner of Deer Fence
The centre is open 10 to 5pm Wed to Sun and Bank Holidays from mid March to the end of October, and Wed and Sun only in the winter. There is a cafe open to everyone and/or you can pay an entrance fee to explore the museum itself. Turn right into the entrance and then immediately turn left into the gravel car park. With a wide metal gate ahead swing right into the grassy area of the overflow car park. On the right you will see the Reeds Road Station of the steam train that runs through the museum grounds. At the top of the car park go straight ahead through the wooden gate onto the bordered woodland footpath. As you reach the fenceline ahead, turn left for a few paces and then turn right through a gate to re-enter the grazed heathland. Go straight on, on the narrow path winding uphill through the heath. When you reach a T-junction with a bench ahead, turn left onto the level sandy path. Pass through a gate at the end and turn right climbing steadily on the wide fenced path. At the junction, go straight ahead on the narrow path and then swing right to join the path coming in from the left marked with blue arrows. Follow this path and soon you will be walking immediately alongside a tall wire deer fence on the left. Continue until you reach the corner of this fence.
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Corner of Deer Fence to St Martins Church
Turn left at the fence corner, to join the wide sandy track climbing steeply uphill with the deer fence running still to the left. As you reach the brow of the hill continue straight ahead on the wide level path with the tall fence still to the left. As a very wide stone track comes in from the right, keep straight on onto the narrower woodland path ahead. Follow this path gradually downhill and ignore the first path off to the left marked with a wooden signpost. As the path begins to swing right, fork left through a cutting in the bank marked with a yellow arrow, down some wooden steps between fencing. Follow this path quite steeply downhill, taking care of any uneven tree roots. At the bottom, keep ahead through a wider path section with wire fences visible left and right. Keep straight ahead as the path narrows to wind downhill through another stretch of woodland. Cross over the brick bridge across the narrow stream to reach Dene Lane. Turn left onto Dene Lane and a few paces later keep ahead, ignoring Dene Lane West off to the left. Follow the lane passing between properties and continue with a cricket green to the left. About half way along the green, look out on the right for the Church of St Martin.
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St Martins Church to Spotted Cow
Turn right into the footpath immediately before the church and signed to Lodge Hill Close. As you emerge out to a stone lane with properties opposite, turn left and follow the lane to reach the junction with the main road. Cross over the road and take the lane opposite called School Lane. Keep right at the fork, onto the unmade surface branch of the lane. As the main lane begins to swings left, take the right fork signed to The Switchback and passing concrete bollards. Follow this woodland path ignoring any smaller paths off to the left across the stream. The path emerges out to the junction with Bourne Grove that you passed by earlier. Go straight ahead into Bourne Grove. Follow the lane back to reach the Spotted Cow pub on the left, for some well-earned hospitality.
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Elizabeth Freeman

hiking

18 hours ago

A fantastic trail which is easy to follow and perfect for walking the dogs as there is minimal road work.

Matt Davis recorded Recording - Sep 01, 02:17 pm

hiking

16 days ago

Nice walk. I would caution that the path just after the rural life centre is overgrown with Heather. I don't know if that is riskier for ticks but you can go around it if you consult the map view.

Nigel Collard

walking

30 days ago

Nice Forest and heathland walk with views and the Rural Life centre just at the right point for a cafe break if you want. Look out for woodland art approaching and after the centre. Spotted Cow very good.

Vince Thorne

4 months ago

Really nice Forest walk today on a sunny Easter holiday, with the end reward of The Spotted Cow and stone oven baked Pizza made outside at the end by (I believe) Italians. Fantastic!

Jim Harrisson

Friday, July 27, 2018

Lovely walk which we did on one of the hottest, sunniest days of the year. There are some beautiful views on a clear day. Since we like to take in the views and read any information boards en route we took well over two hours, with no stops.

melanie M.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Great walk and instructions , lovely scenery and then off to the Spotted Cow for early supper where food was very good - will repeat!

Chris Millyard

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Great walk. Great instructions. Great sharing Fish Platter at The Spotted Cow. What more could one ask for? Chris, Mandy & Dave the dog.

Ron R.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Great walk - although we did it on a very hot morning (Lunch at The Spotted Cow was a bonus, though). I was concerned that it would be difficult to follow the route, as working it out on the Ordnance Survey proved difficult at first (I subscribe to the OS service and draw detailed maps for walks before venturing forth). However, it was a doddle to follow.

Claire S

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Wonderful woodland walk with plenty of wide open spaces to enjoy. Great lunch and you may get to meet the gorgeous pub dog called Goffey! Really recommend this one.

Lorna Mackay recorded Recording - Sep 07, 02:52 pm

hiking

10 days ago

Matt Trollen recorded Recording - Aug 18, 01:52 pm

hiking

30 days ago

Alan Jacobs recorded The Spotted Cow

walking

1 month ago

Lorna Mackay recorded Recording - May 25, 04:12 pm

hiking

3 months ago

The Spotted Cow and Bourne Wood

Farnham, Surrey, England

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Reviews (13)

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