Enchanting Surrey forest where you can walk through set of new Disney series
IT’S not just the good people of Surrey that make the most of the scenery at Bourne Woods.
The area has been the backdrop for multiple blockbusters including Harry Potter, Gladiators and Thor. Now it stars as the set for Renegade Nell Disney’s new hit.
Renegade Nell is a new British historical fantasy adventure television series that premiered on 29 March. Nell Jackson finds herself framed for murder and becomes a female highwayman in 18th century England.
However, today’s walkers won’t need to worry about 18th Century outlaws when they work their way around the woods. Instead they can take in historic features, nature reserves as well as what has been done to the woods to allow for all this filming.
Parking for this particular route, published by Farnham Council, is in the car park of St Thomas’ Church, when permitted, or in Swingate Road. Alternatively, Forestry England also suggest parking off the A151 road from Bourne to Corby Glen.
From St Thomas walkers can make their way to Paradise Wood. They can do this by turning down Swingate and Greenhill Road before getting to footpath no.71. The paths can get slippery when wet so you should check the forecast before heading out.
Halfway through the woods there you may note a commemorative plaque to Stan Cockett who formed the Bourne Conservation Group. After Paradise Woods walkers then need to turn onto Packway and then down footpath no.70 until you get to the side of the car park of the Spotted Cow Pub.
This might be a good spot for lunch. The idyllic country pub is child and dog friendly and sits on four acres of grounds. It has two gardens, one of which is enclosed and a perfect meal out with young children.
On Sunday’s the pub’s menu is full of roasts served with roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, gravy and Yorkshire puddings, however you might need to get in quick as there is high demand. Alternatively they also serve prime cuts, pizzas and a series of other mains.
After filling up, walkers may need to put some extra effort in as they go past Bourne Grove, Deepdene and Lodge Hill Road before going up Old Mans Hill. Now it’s time to get to Bourne Woods. This can be accomplished by heading to Dene Lane before hitting a bridleway that will get you to the woods. Along this route you can take in a number of historical features including Lobswood Manor which was once occupied by J M Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan while living there.
There is also evidence of the filming that goes on in the area. The Tarmac tracks were built to help move machinery into the woods for filmmaking. Bourne Woods itself was used to film some of the outside sequences. According to Digital Spy the area was used to shoot a notable robbery. Bourne Woods wasn’t the only area of Surrey captured for the Disney series, Hampton Court Palace was also used for filming.
At the junction of the paths, you should select the middle one. This will take walkers in a gentle climb into the RSPB nature reserve. Here you will find a view over Hindhead as well as heathland birds, field crickets and sand lizards. From here you can also see the site of a grisly murder mystery, now commemorated with another walk at a Surrey beauty spot.
Continuing along the ridge for about ¼ of a mile, walkers then need to join a bridleway, until they get up the sandy hill next to Old Frensham Road. A large wooden staircase will take walkers down through Sable Wood to Dene Lane. At this point you are on the outside of the wood and can make your way back to your car, or other public transport methods.