Easy hikes and walks around Bisley

reasonably priced coffee and cake. Located to the right side of the Cricketers Pub

Welcoming yurt tucked away behind the Cricketers on the Green pub. Great coffee and fantastic selection of cakes. Indoor and outdoor seating. Open Mon-Sun, 9am-5pm

St Michael and All Angels is a grade II listed church in the village of Pirbright in Surrey. This delightful church is located on a quiet road next to meadows, and has an interesting history and two notable memorials. The first church on this site was built between 1210 and 1214 during the reign of King John. By 1783 this old church had become delapidated. About this time a coach carrying King George III overturned while travelling through Pirbright. The village people rescued him and provided aid until his coach was repaired. As a measure of his gratitude the King issued a petition for churches across England to contribute to the rebuilding of Pirbright Church. The old church was removed and a pleasant new St Michael and All Angels church was built that we still see today. Inside the church on its north wall is a brass memorial to Ross Lowis Mangles. Mangles was a British administrator in India and was the first civilian to be awarded the Victoria Cross - the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry. After retiring from Indian service Mangles lived in Pirbright. At the east end of the church’s large graveyard is the grave to Sir H. M. Stanley, the famous African explorer who searched for and found Dr David Livingstone in 1871. Stanley spent his final years living in Pirbright.

Sir Henry Morton Stanley was a British-American explorer of central Africa. Stanley is famous for his search and discovery in 1871 of the Scottish missionary and explorer Dr David Livingstone. He later also searched for the sources of the Nile and Congo rivers. When Stanley found Livingstone at Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika he greeted him with the famous words “Dr Livingstone, I presume?” Dr Livingstone is buried in Westminster Abbey. Stanley hoped to be buried in Westminster Abbey too, near to Livingstone. However, this honour was not granted due to his name being tainted apparently by African atrocities. Stanley spent most of the final years of his life at Furze Hill near Pirbright in Surrey. He is buried in the churchyard of St Michael and All Angels Church in Pirbright. His grave is marked by a large piece of inscribed Dartmoor granite that includes his African nickname of “Bula Matari”. It was a delight and an inspiring experience to see the grave of such a remarkable man!

Great pub. Another good finish to a ride. Must be good the car park was full: on a Tuesday!

An ait is an islet, usually called such when found on the River Thames or a tributary of it. This one is next to an army camp on the Basingstoke Canal, which is indeed a tributary of the Thames. I don't know who Roy is, but his islet is an interesting feature to see on a canal.

There are many bridges along the Basingstoke Canal and plenty of differing designs. Kiln Bridge is particularly striking with its latticework, and stands out against the colourful trees in the summer and autumn. It's in the St. Johns district of Woking and the towpath here presents a blissful corridor through this busy town.

The two cricketer statues represent the Bedser brothers, Alec and Eric who were born and lived most of their lives in Sussex. They were both highly skilled and played for both the regional and national team on numerous occasions. The statues are frozen in moments after the ball was hit and you should take a moment to see if you can find the bronze ball yourself. (SPOILER: it's on the townside of the river, right under the Woking Coat of Arms)