St. Catherine's Lock – Wey Navigation Pillbox loop from Shalford
St. Catherine's Lock – Wey Navigation Pillbox loop from Shalford
9
hikers
St. Catherine's Lock – Wey Navigation Pillbox loop from Shalford
01:09
4.50km
10m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: May 9, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
494 m
St. Catherine's Lock
Highlight • Viewpoint
There's a significant height difference between the River Thames and the canal's end point in the south – around 85 feet (26 m) – so you'll find a lot of locks if you walk large stretches of the navigation.
Tip by
1.11 km
Wey Navigation Pillbox
Highlight • Historical Site
This pillbox lies on the edge of the Wey Navigation, a strategic point to protect the canal. At one point, there were 28,000 pillboxes across the country and when you find one, it's an important reminder of times past.
Tip by
1.62 km
River Wey at Twilight
Highlight • River
1.90 km
Start of the Wey and Arun Canal
Highlight • Historical Site
For several decades in the 19th century the Wey and Arun Canal was a vital trade link between the south coast and the River Thames and London. The Canal was 23-miles long and linked the rivers Wey and Arun between Shalford in Surrey and Pallingham in Sussex.
Commercial trade on the Wey and Arun Canal reached a peak of 23,000 tons in 1839. However, with the establishment of the railways canal trade traffic started to decrease and had virtually stopped by 1868.
Although no longer looking at its best the start of the old Canal is still evident 150 years after most canal traffic ceased. Restoration of the Wey and Arun Canal is underway and it is planned that “London’s lost route to the sea” will eventually be reopened.
Tip by
2.18 km
View of the River Wey from the Bridge
Highlight • Viewpoint
2.22 km
Unstead Woods Downslink Bridge
Highlight • River
The original railway bridge was removed soon after the old railway line closed. However, the bridge abutments remained and were used to support a new bridge for long-distance walkers and cyclists that opened in July 2006.
The new bridge - called the Unstead Woods Downslink Bridge - forms part of the Downs Link, a 37-mile (59 km) long footpath and cycle route between Guildford and Shoreham. It is delightful to walk under/over this bridge, to admire the surrounding scenery, and to imagine the scene a century ago when steam trains used to cross the former bridge.
Tip by
4.50 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
2.26 km
2.21 km
< 100 m
Surfaces
1.84 km
1.65 km
644 m
256 m
< 100 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Sunday 12 July
27°C
14°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 23.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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