Day trips from London: Surrey, Box Hill
London is huge and has a lot to offer, but there are plenty of other worthy places just outside of the Big Smoke that you can reach by public transport and explore in a single day.
To showcase such places I'm starting the "Day trips from London" series, with the first instalment set in peaceful and scenic Surrey where we embark on an easy hike with plenty of fresh air and an opportunity for a proper lunch.
Link to the Google Maps with all points of the route marked:
Start by taking a train to Leatherhead. It's a little town from where you will reach the Mole Gap Trail that goes southbound along River Mole.
Follow the trail until you reach Thorncroft Bridge. Don’t cross it, turn right instead and follow the drive for a little bit until you pass a shooting club. There you will see the roadsign for Mole Gap Trail suggesting you to turn left.
The trail soon reach River Mole again, and eventually will bring you to a set of pastures. It's a pretty part of route to enjoy a company of sheep, horses and cows.
The path will once again turn slightly away from the river to merge with the Old London Road. This road will pass a set of farm buildings, all the way to the river again where you will need to cross it over the Old London Road Bridge. On the other side of the river, across a highway, you will find yourself in the Mickleham Village.
There are different ways to explore the village. I suggest to make a circle with a lunch stop. Proceed south along the Old London Road, and notice a pretty building of Box Hill School on your right. Then turn left and walk Dell Close till the end, then turn left and walk until you reach a set of stairs going downhill.
The descend will lead you to King William IV pub where you can refill your energy. Alternatively, there’s a coffeeshop across the road and a hotel restaurant further along the route.
After the royal pub follow School lane to reach Old London Road again. This time walk this road past the school to St. Michael's & All Angels Church which building dates back to the Norman period and has a notable clocktower.
From the church, turn to the Swanworth Lane that goes westbound. From the lane take a shortcut southwest, cross the highway, and proceed further south. Eventually you will set your foot back on Mole Gap trail that will lead you to Westhumble village.
There you have an option to take a train back to London, or turn east to explore Box Hill (more about this at the end of the post). But in this guide we will keep following the trail that follows Chapel Lane a little bit and then turns south.
Outside of Westhumble, the trail winds through the vast lands of Denbies Vineyard with spectacular rows of vines with distant hills and forests. Moreover there's a lot on offer in the main complex of buildings - cafe, hotel, visitor centre etc. Do some research and maybe you will return there one day specifically for the vineyards.
Pierce the fields further south to reach the end of the hike - Dorking town. You can take a train back right away, or have dinner there, for example at The Old House - a pub with a cute colourful inner garden.
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Now back to the Box Hill. This is an expansive area with several hills offering sweeping views, pleasant forest walks, open hilltops perfect for a picnic, and even fun stepping stones over the River Mole.
Technically, if you start really early and an avid hiker you might do the whole aforementioned walk and explore Box Hill together in one day. But for more relaxed approach I suggest returning to Box Hill on another day and do a loop from the Westhumble station.
This is the first post in the series, so more to follow. Let me know what areas would you like me to cover next and any other feedback in the comments below. Thank you, and see you on another adventure!
