A spool valve comprising: a housing having a spool cavity therein defined by an inner surface of the housing; and a spool having a longitudinal axis disposed within the spool cavity, the spool comprising: a plurality of lands each having a substantially radially extending metering edge and an axially extending circumferential surface; a plurality of grooves separating each of the plurality of the lands; and a guiding section located axially between at least one land and an adjacent groove, wherein: the guiding section comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced guiding surfaces being substantially flush and contiguous with the circumferential surface of the land and a web extending radially inward of the circumferential surface of the land and connecting the plurality of guiding surfaces; and the web includes a connecting surface connecting adjacent guiding surfaces that is recessed radially inward from the circumferential surface, such that the guiding section allows fluid communication between the groove and the metering edge of the land; wherein the spool is moveable along its longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the spool valve, and the circumferential surface of the land and the guiding surfaces are in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing; and the spool valve further comprising: a control port (34a, 34b) passing through the housing and in fluid communication with the spool cavity; and a chamber (33a, 33b, 33c) defined between the groove, the land and the inner surface of the housing; characterised in that the metering edge of the land is configured to permit or prevent fluid communication between the control port (34a, 34b) and the chamber (33a, 33b, 33c) depending on the longitudinal position of the spool within the spool cavity; and in that the web is defined by a radially extending planar surface. a housing having a spool cavity therein defined by an inner surface of the housing; and a spool having a longitudinal axis disposed within the spool cavity, the spool comprising: a plurality of lands each having a substantially radially extending metering edge and an axially extending circumferential surface; a plurality of grooves separating each of the plurality of the lands; and a guiding section located axially between at least one land and an adjacent groove, wherein: the guiding section comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced guiding surfaces being substantially flush and contiguous with the circumferential surface of the land and a web extending radially inward of the circumferential surface of the land and connecting the plurality of guiding surfaces; and the web includes a connecting surface connecting adjacent guiding surfaces that is recessed radially inward from the circumferential surface, such that the guiding section allows fluid communication between the groove and the metering edge of the land; a plurality of lands each having a substantially radially extending metering edge and an axially extending circumferential surface; a plurality of grooves separating each of the plurality of the lands; and a guiding section located axially between at least one land and an adjacent groove, wherein: the guiding section comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced guiding surfaces being substantially flush and contiguous with the circumferential surface of the land and a web extending radially inward of the circumferential surface of the land and connecting the plurality of guiding surfaces; and the web includes a connecting surface connecting adjacent guiding surfaces that is recessed radially inward from the circumferential surface, such that the guiding section allows fluid communication between the groove and the metering edge of the land; the guiding section comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced guiding surfaces being substantially flush and contiguous with the circumferential surface of the land and a web extending radially inward of the circumferential surface of the land and connecting the plurality of guiding surfaces; and the web includes a connecting surface connecting adjacent guiding surfaces that is recessed radially inward from the circumferential surface, such that the guiding section allows fluid communication between the groove and the metering edge of the land; wherein the spool is moveable along its longitudinal axis in response to actuation of the spool valve, and the circumferential surface of the land and the guiding surfaces are in sliding contact with the inner surface of the housing; and the spool valve further comprising: a control port (34a, 34b) passing through the housing and in fluid communication with the spool cavity; and a chamber (33a, 33b, 33c) defined between the groove, the land and the inner surface of the housing; characterised in that the metering edge of the land is configured to permit or prevent fluid communication between the control port (34a, 34b) and the chamber (33a, 33b, 33c) depending on the longitudinal position of the spool within the spool cavity; and in that the web is defined by a radially extending planar surface. a control port (34a, 34b) passing through the housing and in fluid communication with the spool cavity; and a chamber (33a, 33b, 33c) defined between the groove, the land and the inner surface of the housing; characterised in that the metering edge of the land is configured to permit or prevent fluid communication between the control port (34a, 34b) and the chamber (33a, 33b, 33c) depending on the longitudinal position of the spool within the spool cavity; and in that the web is defined by a radially extending planar surface.