If you’re looking to try a new walk this Springtime, we’ve got the perfect routes for you with this guide to 5 of our favourite walks in Surrey. Don’t forget when planning a walking route, check any relevant government guidelines and information before travelling.
Leith Hill
Leith Hill in Southern England is the highest summit of the Greensand Ridge, approximately 6.7 km southwest of Dorking, Surrey and 40.5 km southwest of central London. Reaching 294 m above sea level, it’s the second-highest point in southeast England.
Leith Hill has a variety of different walking routes (view here) but our personal favourite is the short and sweet ‘Heathland trail’. Walk through the high, sandy, open heath of Duke’s Warren. The 1.75-mile-long route does have some steep parts but is generally considered easy. It takes around an hour to complete.
Winkworth Arboretum is a National Trust-owned arboretum in the spread-out civil parish of Busbridge between Godalming and Hascombe, south-west Surrey, England. Home to over one thousand varieties of plants and trees, Winkworth Arboretum is bursting with colour every season of the year, but it is particularly attractive during the springtime when bluebells and other spring flowers are beginning to bloom. If you want to see bluebells in particular, you can visit Winkworth from late April. Dogs can visit on leads and there is a tearoom serving takeaway refreshments.
Box Hill
Box Hill is the well-known summit of the North Downs in Surrey. The hill gets its name from the ancient box woodland found on the steepest west-facing chalk slopes overlooking the River Mole. Box Hill is a one of the best walks in Surrey for nature lovers in spring-time as you can see butterflies, bats and lots of orchids. Walks on Box Hill provide panoramic views over the Weald with lots of walking and cycling routes to discover. This circular walk includes the Box Hill Stepping Stones, a popular spot for families for the fun stepping stones and also the Fort, built in 1892.
Guildford Castle walk
Once an important royal dwelling, Guildford Castle was transformed into a Victorian pleasure garden in the late 1800s and is an oasis of beauty in the middle of the town of Guildford.
This town and river walk explores some gems of the town’s history including the Guildhall, The Angel Hotel and the Town Bridge which straddles the Golden Ford and the town’s namesake. Stop off to see the flowers in Guildford Castle gardens in spring to delight in the manicured beds.
Harewoods
The Harewoods Estate was created over a number of years by the Victorian London stockbroker, Alfred Howard Lloyd, and forms a large part of the countryside in and around the picturesque village of Outwood. Harewoods is lovely countryside to explore on foot, and fairly flat too. The many footpaths and bridleways take you across working farmland, meadows, an ancient common and woodland. In the spring, the woods are filled with colourful wildflowers, with spectacular displays of primroses, wood anemones and bluebells in Hornecourt Wood. This 2.5-mile circular walk traverses Outwood Common, footpaths through the woods, wildflower meadows and all the flora and fauna that spring has to offer.
Credit Nigel Johnson
Painshill Park
This 18th-century parkland was made by painter and designer Charles Hamilton whose eye for design is apparent in the views he created in the park. There are lots of things to discover when walking at the park, which is most picturesque during springtime: a Hermitage, a crystal grotto cave, the Gothic Tower Cafe and so much more. To enjoy the whole park, try this 2.5-mile route and follow the history of the parkland as you walk. Hamilton used influences from his travels to create the pretty scenes at Painshill, which has garnered the tagline ‘where the walk is a work of art‘.
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