如果你要问我，在萨里感觉最惬意的休闲生活是什么？我的答案是周末郊野骑行、徒步或者和好友野餐，因为生活在吉尔福德这座被绿色包围的城市，城区及郊野有着大量已开发或自然状态下的郊野公园，它们点缀着城市，宛若城市的绿肺，呼吸之间吸引着我们去感受优美的田园诗歌。
今天我要带大家来寻访位于萨里大学Stag Hill主校区南部的萨尔福德公园Shalford Park以及从这里穿流而过的韦河Wey River。由于地理位置较近的缘故，我在周末骑行中频繁经过这里，这里有市政部门为骑行爱好者规划设计的多种类型的骑行道，引导我们穿过熙熙攘攘的城区、起起伏伏的小丘和一片豁然开朗的草地，来到韦河的水利工程St. Catherine’s Lock，参观被小河所滋养的河沿土地。河两岸都有小桥连接，因此不论骑行还是徒步，游览者都可以随意规划自己的路线。
萨尔福德公园 Shalford Park
萨尔福德公园是一片非常宽阔的林间草地，骑行至此给人一种豁然开朗的感觉。这里经常举办吉尔福德本地区的一些节事庆典，平时则可供大家在此游玩放松。
草场和林地的一侧是韦河，在这里每年都会举行市镇里最大的节日庆典-韦河游船节。通常在9月21日星期六上午11点开始。节日当天，在吉尔福德达普敦码头处，会有许多特色食品和手工艺品摊位。在活动期间，一系列的表演与活动基本都是是在黄昏进行的，此时的河面上满布装饰明亮、流光溢彩的船只游行队伍，其色彩缤纷的船饰映亮了整个河滨，充满了浪漫情调。
Shalford Park is a very large grassland located in the middle of the, giving cyclists a cool feeling like ‘suddenly see the light’. There are loads of citywide events take place here, and visitors can relax and enjoy here anytime on non-events time.
On the other side of the grasslands and woods, the River of Wey can be spotted here. The biggest citywide festival – The Wey River Festival will be held here on a yearly basis. Food and craft stalls from 11am at Dapdune Wharf in Guidlford on Sat 21st Sep normally. During the event, the star performance takes place at dusk – the illuminated procession of boats with their colored lights which reflect the whole riverside, and making the atmosphere full of romance.
韦河及圣凯瑟琳水堰设施 Wey River and St. Catherine’s Lock
圣凯瑟琳水堰设施是个非常精致美丽的水利设施，在这里起到调节水流量和为运河上船只提供导航作用，目前处于良好的运营与维护状态下。在哥德尔明Godalming至吉尔福德Guildford间，运河两侧的小路上，风景宛若一幅画卷徐徐展开，这条小路目前也是最受游客欢迎的骑行或徒步小径。沿着这条运河一路向北有大约20英里长，从哥德尔明Godalming延伸到运河与韦桥镇Weybridge以外的的泰晤士河相交汇的地方。
韦河和运河在此交汇，河水很浅，在美丽蜿蜒的小河边，有很多提供给游人的休息区。运河相对来说水流比较平缓，有很多皮划艇爱好者在这里划船。整体来说，这里的一切都会让人觉得很轻松愉快。
在这里，驳船经常从运河上穿过，运河旁边的小径上，户外运动爱好者如徒步、远足、骑行、跑步的人来往穿梭，一副人与自然和谐相处画卷。水堰设施旁还有一些可提供野餐的地方，以及随处可见的导览、地图、指示牌，以方便游客计划下一阶段的旅程。
St. Catherine’s Lock is a pretty well- maintained water lock on the Wey Navigation canal, complete with interesting information boards, all of which are managed by the National Trust. This picturesque walk along the towpath on either side of the canal between Godalming and Guildford is very popular for visitors. 20 miles of nice walking along the towpath is in fact available from Godalming to where the canal joins the Thames beyond Weybridge.
River of Wey interacts canal in the water lock. Here you can find quite a few shallow water areas alongside the meandering river, and plenty of sitting down places can be easily found. The canal is comparatively a slow-moving water, so you very much likely to see some canal boating training. So basically everything you can behold here can be able to keep you amused.
Here, along this lovely picturesque water lock along the River of Wey, barges often pass through in canal, and dogs, cyclists, runners, and walkers are all happily coexisting with each other. Other than this, there is also spots nearby for the little picnic, as well as maps, tour guidance, well-designed signs provided for the visitor to plan next stage of their journey.
