The Wey and Arun Canal

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Canal Navigations' Wey and Arun Junction Canal Title Banner

Run Common to Elmbridge

Run Common is a site of special interest for the Wey and Arun Junction canal. It is kept in water north of the main road and is looked after by Wey and Arun Canal society members. Its possible to walk north west along the canal for a short distance. The section south of the main road is in water but is not currently part of any restoration work, although its towpath can be walked for a short distance. This stretch of towpath at Run Common is the only such instance in the entire stretch between Gosden and Elmbridge that can be walked

The canal at Run Common

The canal south of Run Common
Immediately south of the road at Run Common

Not quite the Tarr or River Mole steps! Stepping stones across the canal near Run Common. Some the stones are a bit dodgy!

The canal near Whipley, just before the railway crossing
The towpath and canal near Run Common just before the canal meets the railway line again

The canal and railway meet at Whipley where a long sort of tunnel exists under the rail route
Where canal and railway meet again at Whipley (or Wipley) In this view the canal approaches on the right hand side and passed through a long tunnel like structure beneath the railway. The structure is now bricked up so the canal alignment under the railway cannot be seen. It must have been a very narrow thoroughfare, more like a culvert. By the time the railway was built the canal's traffic had declined considerably and perhaps it was that the railway was able to impose a contrained structure upon the canal. For the record the canal closed in 1871 and the railway opened in October 1865

The west side of the rail crossing at Whipley
The other side of the 'tunnel' bridge at Whipley. From this point the railway (cycle route) now progresses away from the canal towards Cranleigh, whilst the canal takes a more direct southerly route towards Elmbridge

Beyond the railway crossing the Wey and Arun Junction canal makes its way through woodland as it heads for Elmbridge

The canal in woods near Whipley
The canal bed to the north of the old iron sliding bridge. This bridge still exists but is so overgrown that it wasnt easy to see its structure. However it crossed the canal just above the surface of the water and slid out of the way to make way for the boats. There's an access path off the railway line that leads immediately to the site of the iron sliding bridge

A low slung bridge north of Rowly, possibly another sliding bridge existed here
A little further south there may have been another sliding bridge here, where now a more recent steel and wood structure now exists. Its certainly built at the same height just above water level, and brickwork to the side indicates a bridge of different origin prior to this structure being built

The canal's route across a field near Rowly
Near Rowly the canal emerges from the woods and its former course is now obliterated, but one can make out the course as it ran across this field. Look carefully and it can be seen that the field gently slopes to the right then there is a level section (the canal) before it gently slopes again towards the right

Beyond this point is the restored Rowly lock. Access to it is currently not permitted

This track is the canal's alignment and gave access to Rowly Lock at one time
This farm track is the canal's alignment south of Rowly and gave access to Rowly lock. As the notices denote, this is not currently possible

Fallen tree north of Elmbridge marks canal alignment
Not too far north of Elmbridge, the canal's course is marked by this fallen tree trunk. Behind can be seen traces of the canal's bed

The canal in water on the approach to Elmbridge
A path leads to Elmbridge along which the sometimes watered canal can be seen

Public footpath at Elmbridge alongside the canal
The offical Wey-South route passes along here though its very difficult to find the route between Rowly and Elmbridge as most of the Wey-South path signage has disappeared, possibly through vandalism. This is a view looking along this attractive public footpath north of Elmbridge and the canal is on the left in the trees

Gate just north of Elmbridge marking the Wey-South path
The gate by this attractive car port gives access to the canal route northwards, but it doesnt lead far as the route fizzles out with no indication of where one should go. A Wey-South roundel can be discerned on the right hand gate post

Driveway off the main road at Elmbridge runs alongside the canal
This road parallels the canal just north of Elmbridge. The road traverses to the east of Elmbridge cottages and one must then cross the busy, narrow, road to gain the remainder of the Wey and Arun route southwards towards Fast Bridge