SWC 456: Surrey Peaks Challenge -- Holmwood to Box Hill
Train: Take the 9:41 AM Horsham-bound train from London Victoria arriving in Holmwood at 10:47. Given the length of the full challenge, some planning to do the full route, may wish to start an hour earlier by taking the 8:41 AM train. Return trains from Box Hill & Westhumble are at 35 and 46 past the hour until 18:46 and 19 and 35 past the hour until 23:35 (plenty of time to finish the full route!) and from Gomshall at 17:01; 17:52; 19:01; 19:52, 21:01 and 21.26. Unless walking to Gomshall, buy a day return to Holmwood. If walking to Gomshall, buy a “any permitted” day return to Gomshall.
Distance: 17.8 miles (28.7 km) for the full challenge; shorter options available – Holmwood to Gomshall as written in Book 1 Walk 42 (10.4 miles/16.7 km) or Holmwood to Box Hill (without going up Box Hill (about 10.8 miles/17.0km)
Ascent: 800 meters for full challenge
Difficulty: 12 out of 10 for full challenge; 6 out of 10 for walk to Gomshall and walk to Box Hill without ascending the Hill
It is that time of year again! Time for those going to Scotland to do some peak bagging prep work! This delightful and challenging route based on a combination of Book 1 classics (Walk 42 and 49) has not been done in a couple of years and now has its own walk page and gpx file. At this time, it is map-led with only a GPX file for guidance.
The route takes in several “local” peaks to make a “Surrey Challenge” and with 800 meters of total ascent is the perfect warm-up walk for those heading to Kylesku. You can find more information about the walk and its GPX file here.
The recommended lunch stop is the Wooton Hatch pub in Wooton (about 7 miles/11 km into the walk). Tea, afternoon and/or evening refreshments can be enjoyed at the café at Denbies, the William the 3th in Mickleham or the Stepping Stones pub near Box Hill station or at the Abinger Hammer Tea Rooms or Compasses Inn in Gomshall.
Look forward to seeing you on the challenge!
t=swc.456
8 comments:
Apologies, This is clearly NOT the place to put this post. My bad. I am wondering if there will be a third, more relaxed walk, posted for this Sat?
Holmwood to Gomshall is fairly relaxed, I'd go for that!
Lucilla: the Rowlands Castle walk has numerous options, some "fairly relaxed". As for a third walk: as per our rota, and assuming Stargazer is posting in Walker's slot, the other slot is Dirk's.
Ita vero: Stargazer in loco Walkeris est
Surrey One Peak Challenge: Morning walk as described. Gentle afternoon walk via Coach Road to Denbies (possibly stopping on Denbies Hillside to see butterflies if the weather is fine). Tea at Denbies. Wait in Stepping Stones for the heroic types to turn up.
I have booked a table in the Snug (order at the bar) at the Wotton Hatch Pub for 6 at 13:15. Joanna plans to join us so 4 places available, first come first served.
15 off the posted train with a further 4 on the earlier train, making for n=19 in total under w=warm-sunny-skies. The main group seperated early with a lead party of 8 and a trailling one of 7. The lead group enjoyed the views from Leith Hill before carrying on towards the pub where they bumped into 3 of the 4 early starters. Most indulged in a hot lunch and were pleased with the offerings. As we were preparing to leave the pub, the trailling party arrived -- one caught the bus at this stage, some picknicked and others had drinks and chips. All but 2 headed towards box hill or Dorking with just 2 going to Gomshall. At Denbies, the lead group met 2 early starters. The 2 early starters and 3 from the lead group then continued on the challenge up box hill with the remaining 5 stopping for tea. Of this group, most caught the train with 2 walking to the stepping stone pub for a drink. Some from the trailling group also stopped at Denbies with one also carrying on to the stepping stones where he met one of lead party. The 5 that continued up box hill stopped for very pleasant evening drinks at the william the 4th and finished the complete Surrey Peaks Challenge at 7.45 pm and joined 2 others who had walked to box hill for an enjoyable evening meal at the stepping stones pub. A fine day out in good company. Seen or heard along the way...cuckoos and numerous butterflies.
Those of us in the rear party were very pleased with our One Peak Challenge. We found the climb up Leith Hill - the Ben Nevis of Southern England! - a perfectly adequate test for the sinews. As befits our region's highest point, there was a tea kiosk on top (you don't get that on a Scottish mountain...) and the walk down to Friday Street and Wotton Hatch was full of butterflies - brimstone, holly blue and one or two orange tips. In the garden of the Wotton Hatch pub, where we had drinks and chips, one of our partly commented: "This is the life." And indeed it was on such a lovely day, with the prospect of a gentle walk into Dorking or Gomshall to round it off.
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