Each week we will be bringing you some Hidden Gems from around Guildford as part of our ‘Get Lost In…’ feature. This week’s post features a beautiful description of Silent Pool from our in-house blogger Charli Aisha Harris.
Silent Pool is a stunning site of natural beauty located a mere 4 miles to the East of Guildford, a little further on from the ever popular Newlands Corner. Upon arriving and beginning the short journey up through the woodland, the Pool’s ethereal nature and overwhelming serenity become almost instantly apparent as the ‘real world’ seems to slip away. The almost fairytale world that replaces it is one replete with fantastically stunning sights to behold.
The woodland path, overhung with trees that are still bidding farewell to the greens of summer cover the earth with golden and orange hues. It creates an atmosphere not too dissimilar to a ‘down the rabbit hole’ journey towards the Pool itself. With the vibrant green of the undergrowth clashing against the autumnal colours it is a truly beautiful, but short woodland walk. As a popular destination for hikers, dog walkers, cyclists and casual ramblers, many have remarked upon the feeling of serenity that takes hold when visitors first gaze out over the waters of Silent Pool.
As a spring fed reservoir, Silent Pool would have been a precious source of clean water way back before the days of indoor plumbing and bottled water. It is easy to see why when you look out over the crystalline waters and see little darting fish and the pebbled Pool bed as visible as if the water were nothing but a pane of glass. With the last of autumns orange leaves falling to create little colourful blankets on the still surface, even the cold of Surrey’s winter months cannot chase away the comforting warmth that Silent Pool gives at this time of year.
For those who enjoy exploring, or appreciate a slightly more challenging country walk, there are many little paths dotted all around the water’s edge, leading off from the Pool. Each path beckons invitingly to curious feet, and many hold delightful treats for those willing to indulge their adventurous sides. One particular path – leading uphill over rocky terrain and dotted with great tree roots poking up from the ground – is certainly not for those seeking an easy and gentle stroll, but does promise a remarkable reward for those who persevere up the steep incline. Nestled under the trees, perhaps twenty yards from the path, sits a true ‘hidden gem’. An almost perfectly preserved bunker with stunning views out over the Surrey Hills, adds to the mysterious and mystical air afforded by Silent Pool itself. It is from this point, for those who choose to venture so far, that visitors can gaze out over miles and miles of gorgeous countryside, making the uphill climb more than worth the effort.
Returning back down towards the Pool, surrounded by water, wildlife and woodland, the peace and quiet and complete tranquillity can prove becalming. Drawing out the stresses of day to day life and replacing them with natural beauty and serenity. Although Silent Pool does have a truly haunting side to it as there are various stories of murder, mystery and royal mischief from its past.
Silent Pool is managed, along with nearby Newlands Corner, by the Surrey Wildlife Trust. It is their tireless efforts that have kept Silent Pool in its near unblemished state and allow for it to be enjoyed, as it has been for countless years, by those who choose to visit.
As an afternoon escape, a place for playful puppies to exercise, for a peaceful walk or for curious children to wander and explore, Silent Pool gives a truly wonderful gift to those who visit its waters, and will hopefully continue to do so for many years to come.
Charli Aisha Harris