SOUTH EAST
03. SURREY, BOX HILL
Distance: 1.9 miles/3km | Time: 1.5 hours | Grade: Moderate | Total ascent: 144m
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Britain’s first-ever public country park, Box Hill (224m) so commands the land around it that John Logie Baird rented a solitary house there and sent experimental radio waves down to a pub far below.
Today the hilltop is popular with walkers for its ravishing views of the Weald. On a clear day, you can even see Devil’s Dyke, 25 miles away on the South Downs. This circular walk takes in the choicest viewpoints and passes through woodland in which beech, box, yew and holly predominate, giving all-year-round colour. Visit in summer and enjoy a range of butterflies, too.
1. START
From the exit of the main National Trust car park, cross the road carefully and head right, almost immediately turning left at a bridleway fingerpost to pass Box Hill Fort. This was one of 13 forts proposed by the government to defend the approaches to London in the event of invasion. The project began in 1899 but was abandoned just six years later.
2. 0.2 MILES
At a fork, turn left to pass between two hurdles, then shortly afterwards take a sharp left at a T-junction to go uphill and into woods. On this path you’ll find the grave of local eccentric and mystic Major Peter Labilliere, who was buried upside down at his own request (curiously, the gravestone gets both the spelling of his name and the month of his burial wrong). Bear right at the next fork and continue on this path out of the woods and steadily down the hillside, with your first views of the Weald to the south. Where the path swings sharply right at the bottom of the field, carry straight on along a narrow track.
3. 0.9 MILES
Emerge on to Box Hill Road and turn left. When the road ends at a driveway to a house, take the footpath on the right-hand side. This soon begins to arc steeply uphill through woodland.
4. 1.3 MILES
Just short of Zig Zag Road, turn left along the North Downs Way. This will convey you through a narrow band of trees parallel to the road. You’ll eventually break out on to open grassland and drop down slightly to Salomons Memorial. This viewpoint was built in 1920 in memory of Leopold Salomons. The financier purchased 93 hectares of Box Hill to stop developers from getting their hands on it, then donated it to the National Trust.
5. 1.8 MILES
After taking in the stunning panorama, leave the North Downs Way and follow the path that leads up to the road, continuing alongside it past Swiss Cottage (the house John Logie Baird rented) on your left. Very soon you’ll be at the National Trust Café opposite the car park where you began.
USEFUL INFO
Starting point The National Trust main car park (KT20 7LB) is free to members; there’s a charge for non-members. Alternatively, take the frequent 21 bus up from Dorking Deepdene railway station. metrobus.co.uk
Terrain
Box Hill’s chalky ground drains well, though some of the paths through the wood can become muddy after prolonged rain. The route contains a descent and ascent steep enough to get the pulse racing.
Map
OS Explorer 146
Eat/drink
There’s a National Trust café opposite the start/ end of the walk and, in summer, an ice cream outlet, too.
Stay
Try Chart House, a B&B below Box Hill set in 1.6 hectares of gardens and fields, with chickens and alpacas, too. charthouse.uk.com
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