Send is situated in a rural setting within easy reach of the M25, Heathrow and Gatwick airports, Woking (see below re rail links) and Guildford. It is also in easy driving distance of the coast, either for day-trippers or to catch a ferry to France or even Spain. If you need petrol, you can buy it at the Burnt Common end of the village. So Send is a perfect base for visitors who are travelling by car or train. (Walkers, cyclists and boaters - see below.)
There are two B&Bs in the village - Grantchester Guest House and Sommerhay (see business pages)
To learn about the history of the village, see Send & Ripley History Society web site.
River Wey
The river Wey navigation runs through one end of the village. Traditional narrow boats can be hired in either Guildford or Farncombe for use on the 20 miles of Wey navigation canal, and the more adventurous can enter the river Thames by boat near Weybridge and travel on to, say St Katherine's Dock near Tower Bridge in London. The Wey navigation, which is managed by the National Trust and has quaint lockkeepers' cottages at Worsfold Gates and Triggs Lock, is also used for rowing, punting, kayaking and fishing. The towpath, is perfect for walkers and cyclists (if a little bumpy at times!) In the summer, many wild flowers, including comfrey, yellow flag irises and cow parsley, grow along the edge of the Wey and attract butterflies and dragon flies. Coots, moorhens, mallards and swans live and nest along the banks, where bulrushes and bamboo also grow in abundance. See Environment for details of other local wildlife.
Walkers
The village and surrounding area are criss-crossed by footpaths. Walkers can also easily access the North Downs Way not too far away, for instance at Newlands Corner, which is a local beauty spot. The charming village of Shere and the mysterious Silent Pool are among other local attractions.
Village shops, which are about a 10-minute walk from the Wey for boaters, include two newsagents, a Post Office and a butcher. There is also a fish and chip shop/ Chinese takeaway, an Indian Restaurant and an outlet selling baguettes, etc. Both the Post Office and the newsagents stock provisions such as bread, milk, sweets and a small range of fruit and vegetables. (If you want to sell rather than buy, there is an auction room, Ewbanks, on the opposite carriageway of the slip road which leads towards Send from the northbound carriageway of the A3 at Burnt Common.)
Pubs
There are two pubs in the village - the New Inn, a favourite with boaters as its garden backs onto the Wey (and once home to a mortuary!); and the Saddlers Arms in Send Marsh Road, which also has a garden,. Both pubs host quiz nights and music evenings. (See pubs)
Ripley
Nearby Ripley was once a coaching stop between London and Portsmouth and there are still many pubs with related names - The Anchor, The Ship and the Jovial Sailor amongst them. Visitors can climb Chately Heath semaphore tower, in the Wisley woods. This was part of a chain of towers used to send messages from London to ships in Portsmouth.
Ripley has an upmarket feel, with shops selling ladies fashions, antique and reproduction furniture and paintings, and an estate agent, for those looking for property in the Send and Ripley area. See www.ripleyparish.org.uk for more information on Ripley.
RHS Wisley
One of the major attractions of the area is RHS Wisley. This is the show garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, and attracts visitors from all over the country. As well as the gardens, Wisley hosts an annual music festival, in June each year.
HM Prison Send
Some of our more reluctant visitors are in HM Prison Send, which is actually not in Send at all, but down a rather pretty lane which leads to East Clandon and a National Trust property, Hatchlands. Clandon Houser is also only a few minutes away by car and Polesden Lacey is just a little further afield. Polesden Lacey holds a festival (from 7 to 15 July in 2006), which includes classical and modern music and Shakespeare in the open air.
Guildford
Surrey's county town of Guildford is within 6 miles. Guildford was the home of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Attractions of the town include the cathedral, the castle (where there is open air theatre in the summer), and excellent shopping and restaurants. The Spectrum Leisure Centre is one of the best in the country. It includes a swimming complex, ice skating and ten pin bowling. The Guildford Flames ice hockey team are based there. Its car park is the location for one of the Park and Ride services which operate into the town centre. Guildford is also the location for the University of Surrey.
For full details on Guildford, see http://www.guildfordcommunity.org.uk/leisure_tourism or www.visitguildford.com
Woking
Send is slightly closer to Woking than it is to Guildford. Woking has very good retail and eating outlets and an excellent rail service into London - quickest journey time under 30 minutes There is a frequent coach link from Woking station to Heathrow airport. There are also good train links to the south, for instance to Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth. In fact the railway is one of the main reasons for the growth of Woking. When cemetery space became limited in London, trains ran to Woking to carry coffins and mourners to Brookwood cemetery, which was initially laid out in 1854. Since then, there have been in excess of 232,650 people buried within the cemetery, which is well worth a visit.
