Anchor Public House

		The Anchor, in its picture postcard setting, is a very popular destination food house beside the River Wey just outside Wisley.

Address: Pyrford Lock, Wisley, Surrey, GU23 6QW Phone: 01932 342507

About the pub

The Anchor, in its picture postcard setting, is a very popular destination food house beside the River Wey just outside Wisley. The A3 direct link makes it very convenient for people travelling from London for the day out to dine and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We also attract people from Guildford and Godalming hiring narrow boats on the canal and also visitors to Wisley Gardens. It is a fairly large venue built in the 1920's with a new barn extension. There is a mixture of traditional theme with a contemporary feel in the barn extension which is bright and airy but not too modern, having a wood burning stove.

The pub is full of interesting old photos from the surrounding area. Gardens run along the front and side of the pub leading to a path which takes you to the river. In front of us is a canal and lock with a little single file bridge, narrow boats going past and plenty of wildlife to observe. We have an outdoor children's play area in the garden and offer delicious al fresco dining during the summer with plenty of seating for 350 - 400 people! For everyone's comfort we are one of the few pubs to have a no smoking area outside beside the outdoor play area and immediately outside the doors leading onto the patio. We welcome families and have a family dining area which also allows adults to dine on their own. There are plenty of walks around us and three golf courses so we welcome visitors from all spheres.

Time at the Bar

Weekday opening times are from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. till 10.30 p.m. with food served between 12 noon and 9 p.m. Telephone: (01932) 342507

There is plenty of parking in the pubs own large car park.

The Walk

This walk takes in one of the Borough’s 11 golf courses, at Pyrford, and another just across the water at Wisley. Both take in picturesque stretches of the River Wey Navigations, providing plenty of opportunities for spotting wildlife.

Start/Finish: The Anchor public house, Lock Lane, Pyrford GU23 6QW
Distance: 5.5km (4 miles)
Time: 1½ to 2 hours
Type of walk: Suitable for walkers of all abilities

The ground is flat, mainly following public footpaths, but can be muddy after rain. Bear in mind that some paths may also be rather overgrown following the summer weather.

1. Look for the footpath sign near the yellow grit bin, and go along the footpath for 400m. To the right, there are views of Wisley Golf Course and, to the left, Wisley Church is in the near distance.

Wisley Church was built in 1150AD. The village of Wisley appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Wiselei. It was held by Osuuold (Oswold) and its domesday assets were 1½ hides; 1 church, 1 mill worth 10s, 3 ploughs, 1 fishery worth 5d, 6 acres (24,000 m2) of meadow, woodland worth 6 hogs.

2. At the track junction, turn right along the tarmac track, leading to the Wisley Clubhouse, 800m away.
3. At the end of a small wood, bear right along a path, with the clubhouse on your left, and follow it for 600m, enjoying views of the RHS Wisley Glasshouse.

The gardens at Wisley were gifted to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1903, when only a small part of the original estate was cultivated as a garden, the remainder being wooded farmland. Over time, the face of Wisley has changed, so it is now a world-class garden in its own right. Considered the flagship garden of the RHS, Wisley captures the imagination with richly planted borders, luscious rose gardens and of course, the state-of-the-art Glasshouse.

4. Continue between some planted beds and keep left of the wooden pump-house.

When you reach the golf-course perimeter, you can make a short diversion here to the wooden footbridge crossing the River Wey (go along the towpath for 100m, then follow the pathway into the woods. You may be treated to a view of some water birds, dragonflies or even a kingfisher!).

5. Back on the main route, cross the Wey Navigations towpath, and proceed over the bridge and along the pathway for 800m, passing leylandii hedging to your left, and paddocks to your right.
6. Near home Farm, follow the path through the paddocks until it reaches a tarmac road, which is the shared drive to Pyrford Place, Home Farm and other properties.
7. Turn right along the drive, with Pyrford Golf Course to the right, as far as the large stone pillars at the end of the drive.
8. Cross the road (Warren Lane) at the red pillar box, and go through Elveden Close.
9. Continue along the hedge line.
10. In the large open field, turn right at the stile to join another footpath for 100m, before turning right again.
11. After 300m on this footpath, there is a gravel drive which leads to Pyrford Road.
12. Cross the road at King Henry VII cottage, and proceed along the right hand side hedge.
13. After 300m, you come to Pyrford Golf Course. There is no boundary, so beware of golfers and golf balls.

Some paths cross fairways, so always look left, right and left again before crossing. Always stick to the designated footpaths and keep dogs and youngsters under control. Whatever you do, don’t pick up golf balls – they are not necessarily lost!

14. Pay particular attention to the public footpath signs here. The path follows a pretty straight line but after 300m it takes a 90 degree left turn.
15. The path continues straight for 400m until just short of the boundary fence, where you turn right.
16. Follow the gravel path to the 4th tee, then go straight across to where the footpath begins again. Keep left to return to return to Pyrford Lock after about 200m.

The Anchor is a popular pub, built in the 1920’s, which offers meals daily from 12 noon. Children are welcome in the family area, and dogs are allowed in a designated are of the bar and in the garden on a lead.

This walk was kindly supplied by the Three Villages Footpath Group. The group is part of the Three Villages Residents’ Association, which has existed for over 70 years and covers the villages of Byfleet, West Byfleet and Pyrford. With a membership of over 3000 households, which receive three issues of The Resident magazine every year, the association serves the community by raising issues of local concern, and working in close liaison with Woking Borough and Surrey County Councils. To find out more, contact the association on 01932 343494 or email resident3@btinternet.com

The route was published in the autumn 2009 issue of the Woking Magazine, which is compiled and published four times a year by Woking Borough Council. A total of 48,000 copies of each issue are printed and delivered free to households and many public information points across the Borough.
To find more ‘out and about’ routes, please see www.thewokingmagazine.info
Please note that details were correct at original time of printing. The Council cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused by any error, omission or subsequent change to this information.

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