Loxwood - London's Lost Route to the Sea

The Wey and Arun Junction Canal was completed in 1816 to connect the Wey and Arun rivers and form part of a continuous inland waterway route, linking London with the south coast. Glancing at derelict stretches of the 23-mile (37km) canal today, in places either completely dried up or engulfed by weeds and and a sea of mud, you could be forgiven for thinking that 'derelict' is perhaps an understatement.

But look a little closer, perhaps journey along the canal tow path a little further, and you will see that a major make-over is taking place. After years of neglect, a great deal of restoration work has already been completed along the route of the old canal. But there is a great deal still to do if the Wey and Arun Canal Trust is to realise its dream of reopening this stretch of what became known as 'London's lost route to the sea'.

To understand the true picture and appreciate exactly what is going on, you need to go back to the beginning. During the 19th century it was possible to travel by boat from London to Littlehampton on the Sussex coast via Weybridge, Guildford, Pulborough and Arundel. This route represented a tiny but important part of a once complex and extensive network of inland waterways covering England and Wales.

To make that journey involved travelling along the rivers Wey and Arun which were linked between Shalford in Surrey and Pallingham in Sussex by the Wey and Arun Junction Canal. The canal connection may have only been a small part of the route connecting the capital and the coast but it was a vital link nonetheless. Take it away and the whole netwrork collapsed like a pack of cards.

Though the canal was initially successful, it was the arrival of the railway which spelled its demise. It finally closed in 1871, and as the years passed the waterway clogged up and was reduced to a stagnant depression in the ground, remaining in that state for the best part of a century, abandoned and largely forgotten.

In the early 1970s a group of dedicated volunteers and canal enthusiasts formed the Wey and Arun Canal Trust, with the aim of restoring the canal as a public amenity, including its diverse range of wildlife habitats. Many of the original bridges and locks have been reconstructed or restored, but construction work of this kind is very expensive and every penny is needed. The conservation project depends on the Trust's fundraising efforts and the goodwill of local councils, businesses and landowners.

This pretty walk, which begins in the village of Loxwood, gives a fascinating insight into the fate and rebirth of the Wey and Arun Junction Canal, highlighting the various renovation works in progress. Heading north across lush farmland, the route eventually joins the tow path, illustrating how the ongoing conservation programme is transforming the canal from an overgrown ditch into a vibrant waterway.

Where to eat and drink

The Onslow Arms is at the start of the walk and is characterised by its popular horseshoe-shaped bar. Choose pizza, ploughmans or jacket potatoes from the main menu, or complete the walk on a Sunday when a traditional roast is available. There is also a specials board and a beer garden. Tanglefoot and Badger Best feature among the beers and there are usually a couple of guest ales. The Sir Roger Tichborne inn at Alfold, midway round the walk, has a beer garden and a children's playground. Inside expect chilli, chicken curry, steak and kidney pie and a Sunday roast on the varied menu. Bar snacks include baguettes, salads and ploughmans. The pub is closed on Monday.

While you're there

Enjoy a summer afternoon cruise on the restored section of the Wey and Arun Junction Canal. The trips take place at the weekend, begin by the Onslow Arms in Loxwood and last less than an hour. Travelling by boat is a great way to see how the canal is being rejuvenated. Longer cruises on the canal take place once a month.

What to look for

In Spy Lane is the chapel of a religious sect formed in the 19th century. The adjoining burial ground is the final resting place of founder John Sirgood and his followers, though there are no headstones to mark their graves. Sirgood was a puritanical evangelist who came to Loxwood in 1850. He gathered around him the Society of Dependents, whose members became known as Cokelers because of their teetotal preference for cocoa. The Cokelers carried out a great deal of charity work in the area, though they refused to solemnise marriage in their chapel, did not approve of music and books and did not endorse sport or the theatre.