Swan Barn Farm well, woodland and meadow walk
Starting and ending in the historic market town of Haslemere, this circular walk goes from the medieval dipping well, through a network of meadows, streams and woodland before returning to town.
Near to
Swan Barn FarmStart point
Well Lane where it joins the High Street, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 2JY. Grid ref: SU905330. What3Words: ///airbrush.bullion.bringsTrail information
*Narrow kissing gates and muddy areas. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Variable underfoot with narrow kissing gates and rustic bridges. Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs welcome under close control. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Well Lane where it joins the High Street, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 2JY. Grid ref: SU905330. What3Words: ///airbrush.bullion.brings
Stage 1
With your back to the High Street, enter Well Lane, passing the Citizens’ Advice Bureau on your right. On the opposite side of the road / car park you will see a narrow gravel track bordered by trees. Walk down this track a short distance and you will see one of Hazelmere's old town wells down some steps on your left. The path, flanked by the National Trust’s Swan Barn Walk omega sign, bears to the right.
Stage 2
At the notice board and information point, a large kissing gate leads to a path adjacent to a post and rail fence, the other side of which is a restored orchard. Cross the bridge and head upwards, bearing right towards a gate onto a gravel track (Collards Lane). Turn left and walk about 90 metres (98 yards) along the track until you reach a place where the lane opens out into a wide area to give access to two vehicle gates and one pedestrian gate.
Stage 3
Go left through the pedestrian gate, going downhill across the pasture to reach another gate which leads to a small bridge over the stream into Longmoor Woods. This area can be very muddy at almost any time of year!
Bridge over stream at Swan Barn Farm | © National Trust Stage 4
Standing with the little bridge behind, you now have two choices of direction. 1) For a slightly longer walk, head up the stepped slope and follow the track round and up to the right, taking you around the upper part of the woods. The path eventually takes you down hill again (chain link fence on your left) where you join up with the lower path coming from your right. 2) For a shorter route, take the right-hand track into the woods. The undulating track passes several woodland glades and is crossed by a small stream, after which you pass a larger glade. The alternative longer path rejoins the track from the left. Ignore the path to the right and continue straight on, passing the perch bench on your left before bearing right to reach a wooden bridge over a stream under some mature beech trees.
Stage 5
Bear up to your left (ignoring the right hand path) following the path bordered by a chain link fence, passing on your right several hazel coupes at different stages of growth. The path has many roots crossing it, which can be slippery when wet.
White Admiral butterfly | © National Trust Images/Matthew Oates Stage 6
After 200 metres (218 yards) you reach the edge of the woods by the National Trust Witley Copse & Mariners Rewe omega sign. A gate marks the entrance to a meadow. Keep the woodland edge to your left until you reach another gate (perch bench to right of path) and descend a series of curving steps down to and across a stream. With the overhanging woodland edge to your left, continue towards another gate into another meadow.
Stage 7
Turn right and follow the line of the mature hedgerow (down the slope to your right). At the end of the field you will see a pedestrian gate through another hedge ahead; ignore this and instead turn right through the cattle corral. This leads to another hay meadow; keep to the left of this meadow and go straight ahead.
Stage 8
Go through the wide gateway ahead, passing through a small, rich, damp wooded hollow with a low fence on your right. The path bears left and brings you out into a meadow.
A native hazel dormice | © Kerstin Hinze Stage 9
The track then turns right, following the woodland edge and leads through two marshy fields: Devil's Meadow and Balls Moor (very wet and muddy, even in the summer!). Please leave the gates as you find them.
Stage 10
Go through the large gateway with a 5-bar gate. Just after the gate you will see a path (the Serpent Trail) running from north to south which bisects the track. Ignore this footpath and continue across the width of this small strip of woodland, crossing another stream as you do so. The track bears slightly right through a meadow before passing through a gap into the next field (there is a metal footpath sign on the trunk of the oak tree to your right). The path heads towards a collection of farm buildings which can be glimpsed through gaps in the tree line. Rounding a corner, you will see the top of a small black wooden building next to a 5-bar gate.
Summer meadow at Swan Barn Farm | © National Trust David Elliott Stage 11
Go through the 5-bar gate. At this point if you look to your left you can see the Speckled Wood building. Bear right to continue past the small black building (on your right) onto the gravel of Collards Lane, past a small pond on the left. Go past the wide open area which gives access to the two vehicle gates and one pedestrian gate and keep walking another 90 metres until you reach the pedestrian gate on your right. Retrace your route back into Haslemere town centre, passing the well again.
Speckled Wood building at Swan Barn Farm | © National Trust David Elliott End point
End of Well Lane where it meets the High Street, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 2JY. Grid ref: SU905330. What3Words:///airbrush.bullion.brings
Trail map
Map route for Swan Barn Farm well, woodland and meadow walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
More near here
Swan Barn Farm
A quiet retreat of woodland and pasture only 30 seconds from Haslemere High Street
Get in touch
Swan Barn Farm, Collards Lane, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 2HU
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