Length: Main walk: 15.2km (9.4 miles)
Ending in Dorking: adds 1.1km (0.7 miles)
Difficulty: 4 out of 10
This walk has something to offer at almost any time of the year. Despite being relatively close to London, it offers a deep rural tranquility.
Trains: Take the 10.32 Guildford train from London
Waterloo,( arriving at Effingham Junction at 11.25. Return trains from Box Hill and
Westhumble are at xx:05 (Victoria), xx:09 (Waterloo) and xx:35 (Victoria - change at Epsom for the xx:53 to Waterloo)
Buy a day return to Effingham Junction. You will then need to buy a single for the short distance from Box Hill & Westhumble or Dorking to Leatherhead on the return journey.
Lunch: Granary Cafe,
Polesden Lacey (01372 452048).
7.4km/4.6 miles into the main walk, This self-service National Trust eatery is currently
the only lunch stop on this walk. It
serves hot meals from 12-3pm and tea and cakes to 5pm. It may be busy so bring some
snacks just in case.
Tea: The self service restaurant in the Denbies Wine Estate Visitor Centre (tel 01306 876616), serves food until 4pm. The Stepping Stones pub (01306 889932, is a possible tea option 400 metres beyond Box Hill and Westhumble station.
Pilgrim Cycles (01306 886958) cafe at Box Hill station is closed at weekends according to its website.
L=2.14
4 comments:
I'm doing the Westhumble start. Will look out for the group at Polesdon Lacey.
7 and a dog at the station and 2 catching up later makes n=9 And a dog. The day was w=unexpectedly-sunny
It was a bit boggy crossing Effingham Common but I don't think we lost anybody. The woods were full of colour but not yet in an autumnal way.
Eventually, Polesden Lacey was reached. The Granary was busy and I don't think any of ours bothered queuing. Most had brought their own, anyway.
After lunch, the group split into segments. I, of course, was in the fast group. I don't know if any visited Denbie's but I heard of one visiting the Stepping Stones. I arrived at Westhumble station at 4 and, with a train due at 4.05, was unable to deploy the 'waiting for train' excuse. The majority caught the same train.
Seven set off from Effingham Junction and were later joined by a later starter and the walker coming from Westhumble, making a total of n=9 plus dog in w=mild_sunny_weather, a perfect autumn day. We walked through lots of lovely woodland strewn with fallen leaves, sun shining through the thinning canopy. All stopped at Polesden Lacey to eat packed lunches. The cafe was closed. The restaurant was open but nobody ate there. Four faster walkers set off ahead of the rest. One walker stayed to have a look around Polesden Lacey. The last four set off admiring the sunlit scenery and feeling the chill in lengthening shadows. A gap developed in the group with one dropping out of sight. Three stopped for tea from a serving hatch at Denbies. One then carried on to Dorking and two went for the 17.05 from Westhumble. I don't know whether others went to the Stepping Stones pub. No sign of anyone else at the station.
Lovely posting. Beautiful carpets of fallen leaves the sunshine coming through the not yet fallen making a sunny dappled walk. Gorgeous peeks through woodland of sun soaked wet meadows looking limey green in sunshine with flattering red/brown cattle grazing. The temperature was temperate bordering on warm and the evening chill arrived just as the walk was ending. Transport home for me in driving rain, no probs’
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