Box Hill Circular via Betchworth - a brisk climb, four lunch pubs and possible moonlight extension

Length: 16.8km (10.4 miles) or 18.5km (11.5 miles) T=swc.396

9.23 train from Waterloo (9.32 Clapham Junction) to Box Hill, arriving 10.11

Buy a day return to Box Hill & Westhumble (unless you plan to do the longer ending - see below - in which case get a day return to Dorking)

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.

Starting with an invigorating climb up the Burford Spur of Box Hill, this walk then descends across the southern side of the escarpment and passes through the interesting Brockham Quarry, before looping back across the lower territory to the south

There are FOUR possible pubs for lunch, and I chose a slightly earlier than recommended train to give you the widest choice of them. The first and probably best is the cheerful Red Lion in Betchworth, with unpretentious food in generous portions (last time I was there, anyway...). But not long after there is the Dolphin and two pubs in Brockham. Plus a cafe and a convenience store in the latter place, so you should not starve.

To stifle moans about all the walks being too short this week, this one comes with a possible longer ending, taking in the Deepdene Trail (whatever that is) on the way into Dorking and extending the walk to 11.5 miles.

The main walk bypasses Dorking, however, and carries on along the River Mole to Westhumble (ie Box Hill station). You might get to Ryka's Cafe (a motorbiker haunt) before it closes at 4pm, but the best tea option here is actually the Stepping Stones pub, which usually serves cakes and tea.

** It is a full moon today and if weather conditions allow, a short moonlight walk might be possible. I have a circular route in mind, starting from the Stepping Stones, but we will see if the clouds part... **

Trains back from Box Hill are at 35 past to Waterloo (48 minutes) or 46 past to Victoria (59 minutes), but the latter train only runs to 18.46, after which it switches to 19 past (19.19 etc), which is a bit strange... All these trains go to Epsom and Clapham Junction: the Victoria trains also take in Sutton.