Where to Walk in the Surrey Hills: Surrey Hills AONB Walking Routes
Table of Contents
You may know that I used to run a walking group for women in the Surrey Hills. I had a lovely assortment of day-walks that I had arranged according to when they were at their best throughout the year. If you’re looking for inspiration on where to walk, check out this list. Most walks are at least 10 miles, because I feel like that’s how long I need to walk to feel like I’ve had a great day out. Some of the winter walks are a bit shorter.
Walk at your own risk, and ALWAYS check GPX files before you head out. Always walk with a paper map as your primary navigation tool, and use a GPS device as your secondary one. Don’t head out on a walk in unfamiliar territory unless you have a map with you AND you know how to read it. Use common sense.
January
Guildford to Gomshall
This is a shorter walk (11 miles), which makes it perfect for the wintertime, when the days aren’t very long. This walk takes in portions of the North Downs Way, the gorgeous views from the top of the hill at St Martha-on-the-Hill Church, and the pretty little village of Shere.
There are pubs for lunch in Shere, as well as a quaint little sweet shop with good ice cream. Gomshall, at the end of the walk, also offers a couple of places to eat. Note that train times from Gomshall are sporadic, usually every two hours or so, which means that if you don’t time your arrival correctly, you’ll have a bit of a wait at the end—time to get a bite to eat or a coffee. Note that there is an M&S Food at Guildford Station if you need to pick up lunch or snacks.
Starts at Guildford Station and ends at Gomshall Station. This is a linear walk.
You can find more details on the Saturday Walkers Club website.
February
Dorking to Merstham: NDW
This is another fantastic walk for short winter days, coming in at 11 very hilly miles. There are a lot of ups and downs on this walk, leading my group to dub it “The Hunger Walk.” We were all starving the first time we did this walk, despite plenty of rest stops and snacks.
It’s about a 10-minute walk north on the A24 to get to the Stepping Stones car park at the base of Box Hill, which is where you can catch up with the North Downs Way. From there, just follow the North Downs Way signs all the way to Merstham.
There’s a snack bar at the top of Box Hill near the start of your walk, and another in Gatton Park, towards the end of the route.
Starts at Dorking Station and ends at Merstham Station. This is a linear walk.
March
Dorking Circular: Meg’s Well and Waterfall
This is one of my favorite routes, and it’s one that I put together myself. It’s a bit longer, coming in just over 13 miles, since the days are longer in March. It’s good to walk this one during the wetter months, when the waterfall is in full force. It’s such a pleasant surprise to come across it in the middle of the Surrey Hills. You’ll pass pretty woodland, an Iron Age hillfort, a sacred well, and a tropical-looking waterfall. This is one of my more strenuous routes, but it’s well worth it.
Meet these trees from If Trees Could Talk: Lone Oak and Wolvens Lane Beech.
There’s a farm shop and pub in Coldharbour, which is about halfway through the route.
Starts and ends at Dorking Station. This is a circular walk.
April
Ockley to Warnham: Quiet Woodland
This walk is perfect for the springtime when the bluebells are out. It’s full of pretty woodland and lush expanses of bluebells and wild garlic. This truly magical walk is one of my group’s favorites. Note that you must walk it from Monday to Saturday, as the trains on this line don’t operate on Sundays. The pretty little Church of St John the Baptist in Okewood is a lovely place for a rest stop.
Starts at Ockley Station and ends at Warnham Station, which are both on the same line. This is a linear walk.
You can find more details on the Saturday Walkers Club website.
May
Farnham to Godalming
I never actually did this route with my group, though I did plan it out and prepare all the rest stops. This is a longer walk, coming in just under 13 miles, so it’s perfect for the longer days that come with British Summer Time. This route starts off alongside the pretty River Wey, then passes the magical Mother Ludlam’s Cave. Near the end of your walk you pass the pretty little hamlet of Peper Harrow and the Church of St Nicholas. The route wraps up once more alongside the River Wey as you approach Godalming. Much of this route feels very remote, despite the fact that you’re in the middle of Surrey.
Meet these trees from If Trees Could Talk: Fulbrook Oak and Peper Harow Yew.
There are plenty of places to get food on this route: the Tilford Village Shop, the Barley Mow pub in Tilford, The Donkey pub in Charleshill, a service station just after you cross the A3, and the Stag on the River pub in Lower Eashing.
Starts at Farnham Station and ends at Godalming Station. This is a linear walk.
You can find more details on the Saturday Walkers Club website.
June
Holmwood to Dorking
This is one of my favorite routes, and people have asked me to keep this one a secret so it doesn’t get too popular. This is a variation of the Saturday Walkers Club walk from Holmwood to Gomshall. Coming in at 12.5 miles, this is one of the longer walks, so it lends itself to a long summer day. You’ll enjoy pretty woodland and a climb up to the top of Leith Hill, which is the highest point in south-east England. Note that trails to Holmwood don’t run on Sundays, so you’ll have to do this one any other day of the week.
Meet these trees from If Trees Could Talk: Railway Oak and Beare Green Oak.
This is another fairly remote route, though there is a good snack bar at Leith Hill tower that also serves hot drinks.
Starts at Holmwood Station and ends at Dorking Station. This is a linear walk.
July
Guildford Circular: NDW, Downs Link, and Wey-South Path
This is one of my favorite walks, and you can do it in either direction. I try to do this one in late summer, when the heather is blooming on Blackheath. This route starts and ends along the River Wey, and it takes in portions of the North Downs Way, the Downs Link, and the Wey-South Path. You’ve got an enormous variety of scenery: the River Wey, Chantry Wood, incredible views from St. Martha’s Hill, lush ferns coming down along the Downs Link, farmland, heathland, more gorgeous views from the top of Chinthurst Hill, the Wey & Arun Canal, and back to the River Wey.
The only option for food on this route is the pub in Chilworth. Note that there is an M&S Food at Guildford Station if you need to pick up lunch or snacks.
Starts and ends at Guildford Station. This is a circular walk.
August
Dorking Circular: Towards Gomshall
This is another route that I put together, and I received excellent feedback on it from my group. Head westward from Dorking Station, passing along the North Downs Way for a bit, then turning around just before the village of Gomshall to head back along a different path. It’s a pretty 11.5-mile route with both woodland and farmland views.
Meet this tree from If Trees Could Talk: Ranmore Maple.
You’re out in the countryside for the entirety of the walk and there are no places to get food along this route.
Starts and ends at Dorking Station. This is a circular walk.
September
Guildford to Dorking: NDW
It’s about 20 minutes from Guildford Station to pick up the North Downs Way—just walk through the car park, cross the street, head down some stairs to the river, and then turn right. Follow the River Wey until you reach a footbridge that passes over the bridge, and cross it. From there, just follow the North Downs Way signs all the way to Dorking. It’s a pleasant 13.5-mile route along the North Downs ridge through shaded woodland, with plenty of fantastic views on the way.
Meet this tree from If Trees Could Talk: you’ll pass nearby Newlands Corner Yew, though you’ll have to take a diversion from the route to see it.
You’ll pass a snack bar and toilets at Newlands Corner. Note that there is an M&S Food at Guildford Station if you need to pick up lunch or snacks.
Starts at Guildford Station and ends at Dorking Station. This is a linear walk.
October
Dorking Circular: Ranmore and Norbury Park
It’s autumn now and the days are shorter. The leaves are also turning, which means it’s the perfect time of the year for this particular 9.5-mile route. The route starts in Denbies Vineyard, which is always gorgeous in the fall, with the vines lit up in yellow. You’ll walk through Ranmore Common, Norbury Park, and Druids Grove, which is full of ancient yew trees.
You’re out in the countryside for the entirety of the walk and there are no places to get food along this route.
Starts and ends at Dorking Station. This is a circular walk.
November
Guildford Circular: Watts Chapel and Shalford Water Meadows
This is another shorter walk, at 10.7 miles, though it can be cut shorter if you like. You’ll see where—it’s when you return to the River Wey. Just turn left to return to Guildford Station rather than continuing on the walk. This is a circular walk starting in Guildford that will take you along the Hog’s Back ridge, then down into Compton to the Watts Gallery and Chapel. Be sure to go inside the Watts Chapel when you pass by it; it’s a truly unique Grade I listed Arts & Crafts building. Walk through the cemetery and find Aldous Huxley’s grave. From there, you’ll head back toward Guildford, passing Loseley Park. Then you’ll head into Shalford Water Meadows, then up along Pilgrim’s Way through Chantry Wood, and then back to Guildford Station.
The cafe at the Watts Gallery has lovely lunches, cakes, and hot drinks, and is perfect for a rest stop. They have outdoor seating for both patrons of the cafe and walkers who have brought their own food. Note that there is an M&S Food at Guildford Station if you need to pick up lunch or snacks.
Starts and ends at Guildford Station. This is a circular walk.
December
Dorking Circular: Box Hill
This is another route that I put together, and its 9.5 miles are perfect for a shorter winter walk. This route start off in Dorking, heading through Denbies Vineyard and through the Mole Valley before climbing up through the village of Mickleham to White Hill. From there, it heads through the woodland of Box Hill before coming out into the village of the same name, then down onto the ancient Pilgrim’s Way before embarking on its approach back into Dorking via Pixham.
There’s a pub at Mickleham for lunch, and a snack bar at Box Hill near the end of the route.
Starts and ends at Dorking Station. This is a circular walk.
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