Founders Footpaths

Surrey

A classic Anytime Challenge route around the Surrey Hills visiting five sites associated with the founding of the LDWA including Steer's Field and Blatchford Down, both named in memory of two of the founders of the Association, and the Old Peaslake Post Office. Also passed are the Pitch Hill memorial toposcope and the Blatchford memorial seat at Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel. The route involves more than 3000 ft of ascent and includes a variety of fine landscapes with both downland and greensand hills. Developed by Tony Youngs, a contemporary of the founders whom he knew, the route information includes line drawings by Tony. It also includes more detail about the origins and founding of the LDWA.

In 1966, Chris Steer chanced to see in the window of the then Post Office at Peaslake a small notice: 'Tanners Marathon - 30 miles in 10 hours. Write to Alan Blatchford.' He did, and their association began. The rest, as they say, is history.

A similar route has been offered as an event by the London LDWA Group each October, with the 10th such event in 2006, 40 years after Chris saw the notice, while the 2012 event marked the 40th Anniversary of the LDWA's formal founding. The third founder was Barbara Blatchford,a Vice President of the LDWA.

The original route description booklet is still available by post from the Recorder, and this includes a sketch map. The text only may be downloaded from this site. An updated (2014) route description is available as a free download, see below.

Tony passed away in 2007 but his memory lives on both in this challenge and its event and the many other classic routes that Tony originated.

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Details:

Path Type:	Anytime Challenges
Attributes:	Anytime Challenges Challenging Downland/Wolds
Start and Finish:	TQ141503 - Steer's Field, Ranmore Common, near Dorking, Surrey
Web Sites:	Surrey LDWA - Founders Footpaths

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Certificate	Certificate for Founders Footpaths  (Elton Ellis )
External download	Founders Footpaths  (LDWA Surrey Group  - 2014 )

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