Frensham Great Pond
Farnham
On this walk, children will enjoy swimming in the summer and playing on the sandy beach.
Frensham Great pond is a popular place for wild swimming
The Basics
Time: 40 mins
Distance: 2.7 km / 1.7 miles
Terrain: Sandy paths with some so sandy they can be hard going in dry weather, some sections on quiet lanes with no pavements.
Pushchair: Unfortunately, pushing a pushchair through the sand would be too hard.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome to walk around the pond but they cannot go on the beach area or swim within the designated bathing area. They should be on short leads due to sensitive bird conservation areas.
Refreshments: Frensham Snack Bar selling burgers, ice-creams, toasties and drinks. The walk also passes Frensham Pond Hotel & Spa
Toilets: There are public toilets near the snack kiosk.
Public Transport: Stagecoach service 19 between Haslemere and Aldershot and service 75 between Rushmoor and Wrecclesham stop at the junction with Pond Lane, from where you can access the circular path around the pond.
Parking: Ringo operated car park - up to one hour £1.80, 2 hours £3.60, 3 hours £4.80, all day £7, free for National Trust members. It is large, but can fill up on hot summer days. (Postcode: GU10 2QB - W3W - ///vitamins.sensibly.racked)
There is a huge sandy beach at Frensham Pond
You might not expect to find a green flag beach in land-locked Surrey, but there is one that you can enjoy on this walk on the banks of Frensham Great Pond. It is a busy place one hot summer days, but come out of season and you may well have it almost to yourself. Our walk takes you around the entire circumference of the pond with refreshment stops and attractive vistas of the pond along the way.
The Route
Begin the walk facing the large sandy beach with the car park behind you. Dogs are not allowed on the beach and you will see where the walk begins as signs direct dog walkers away from the beach and along a sandy path with fences on either side. Soon, the fences will give way to open heathland, where dogs should be on short leads to protect the birds. Continue straight. Ignore a path to your left and then when you come to a fork with two fenced sandy paths, take the one to the right.
Walk along the sandy path with fences either side again until the fences are replaced by scrub and vegetation. Keep going, always with the pond directly to your right. The path will narrow and become less sandy (which I am sure your calves will appreciate). Proceed through the woodland.
At a wooden barrier, keep right beside the pond until afterwards, the path leads you up to Pond Lane and you have no choice but to leave the footpath and the pond behind. Turn right and walk along the lane. Just past the entrance to Pinehurst Cottage and Woodcote, you can re-join the footpath and walk next to the pond again.
Just before the sailing club, you will need to come back up to Pond Lane again. Turn right and pass the sailing club and then Frensham Pond Hotel & Sap to your left. Round the top of the pond and continue along the lane with the pond to your right.
Keep going around the pond until you see the public bridleway sign on your right, where you can leave the lane and join a sandy path for the last section of this walk. Continue with the pond to your right and you will emerge at the car park and beach again.
always check signage before swimming in case of outbreaks of blue-green algae
the area can get extremely busy on hot days, so we advise choosing a cooler day for this walk
the snack kiosk can be found between the car park and beach and has outdoor seating only
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Did you know?
Frensham Great and Little Ponds, which were built in the Middle Ages to provide fish for the Bishop of Winchester's estate.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one just next door at Frensham Little Pond
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