Witley and Milford Commons

Witley and Milford Commons are a mix of heathland, woodland and grassland seven miles south of Guildford, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Wealden Heaths National Nature Reserve. In January 1915 a large camp was built here to train British and Canadian troops for the trenches, and in June 1916 the war poet Wilfred Owen arrived at Witley Camp to be commissioned into the Manchester Regiment. Walkers can still find the old parade ground, a sandstone memorial to the Canadian soldiers and the so-called baseball ground, where local rumour has it that Babe Ruth once played. A pink-waymarked trail loops from the car park past carved wildlife posts, coppiced sweet chestnut and an old cattle pond, and a natural play trail in the woods gives children logs to climb and balance on. Reviewers single out the play areas, and note there are no toilets or refreshments. Dogs are welcome under effective control, on a short lead from March to July.