River Wey walks: New Haw Lock to Pyrford Lock
The River Wey Navigation linked the Thames and a large part of central southern England via the Basingstoke and the Wey and Arun canals. This walk covers parts of the Wey Navigation and the Basingstoke Canal.
Map
Start:
New Haw Lock, grid ref: TQ0550563108
1
From New Haw Lock, walk along the towpath with the lock keeper's cottage on your right. Pass under the M25 and you will see the Basingstoke Canal junction on your right. Continue under the railway bridge to the old Parvis Bridge beside Byfleet Boat Club.
Basingstoke Canal
From the Basingstoke junction you can see evidence of 300 years of transport. The Wey Navigation was built in 1653, preceding the Canal Age by over 100 years. The success of the inland waterways ended with the railways in the 1800s, and later with the motorways.
2
On the bridge, bear left and walk behind the old grist mill and onto the towpath again.
Parvis Wharf and Bridge
At the old Parvis Bridge (direction 2) the navigation widens so barges could turn after loading. The area 250 years ago was full of activity, with wharves servicing six mills. In the mid 1800s, James Yeowell, grocer, mealman and coal merchant, worked here for many years. Now only the grist mill survives.
3
Continue along the towpath, passing West Hall on your right, Murrays Bridge and then Dodds Bridge.
West Hall
The hall (direction 3) was occupied by Frederick Cornelius Stoop, a local philanthropist, who built the boathouse and organised public regattas. The Stoop family are not forgotten: two of Stoops sons played rugby for England, with Adrian Stoop lending his name to the famous Twickenham Stoop.
4
Continue on the towpath for ¾ of a mile to the Anchor at Pyrford Lock. From the Anchor, retrace your steps to Dodds Bridge.
5
Cross the footbridge and follow the footpath straight ahead for a third of a mile (500m). At a fence line, the path bears to the left through a field towards houses at the end of a cul-de-sac. Continue to Pyrford Road, cross over and go into Hollybank Road. This private road is also a public footpath.
6
Continue to Oakcroft Road. Turn right to Old Woking Road. Cross the road, turn left and right down Sheerwater Road, passing the golf club on the left and crossing the railway to reach the Basingstoke canal.
7
Turn right onto the canal towpath. Follow the towpath for one and a half miles past the Woodham Flight to rejoin the Wey Navigation towpath via a footbridge.
8
Turn left on the Wey Navigation towpath and return to New Haw.
End:
New Haw Lock, grid ref: TQ0550563108
