Ascent/Descent:
540m; Net Walking Time: 4 ¼ hours
Toughness:
7/10
Take
the 10.25 Horsham train from Victoria (CJ 10.32, Carshalton 10.49
etc.), arrives Box Hill & Westhumble at 11.18.
Return trains are on xx.19 (change Dorking) and xx.40. [Buy a Dorking return for the Dorking ending.]
Return trains are on xx.19 (change Dorking) and xx.40. [Buy a Dorking return for the Dorking ending.]
This
short but strenuous walk climbs up a series of hills in a clockwise loop north
and east of Box Hill & Westhumble station: Norbury Park, Mickleham Downs,
Headley Heath and finally Box Hill itself.
There
are many fine viewpoints on this walk and in several places you can see your
earlier route from a new perspective. This part of the North Downs is
deservedly popular, but there are some quieter places in between.
Norbury Park Nature Reserve is
described by Surrey Wildlife Trust as a ‘working landscape’ which includes one
saw mill and three farms. The prominent house at its centre was built in 1774
and has had several famous owners and tenants, including Leopold Salomons, who
donated Box Hill to the National Trust in 1914, and Dr Marie Stopes, the family
planning pioneer.
Box Hill and Headley
Heath are both owned by the National Trust, which has introduced
special breeds of sheep and cattle to restore more of the downland to its
original ‘unimproved’ condition; unfertilized land is richer in wild flowers.
This diversity also supports many butterflies: 40 of the 58 British species
have been found on Box Hill.
Lunch: King William
IV (food all day) or the Running Horses (food
to 15.00), both in Mickleham (4.7 km/2.9 mi).
Tea:
the Stepping
Stones pub or Pilgrim Cycles near/at
Boxhill & Westhumble station, or the Lincoln Arms on Dorking's
Station Approach.
4 comments:
Sounds good. Looking forward.
Will be attending and hope to see many of you. Happy new year.
Monica
Planning to a do a part of this walk. Driving and parking at Box Hill & Westhumble station or Denbies. If anyone else is interested then I can call in at Tadworth or Tattenham Corner station, 4 seats available.
The stroller
n=17 on the walk on a bright, slightly overcast day. Good walking conditions with next to no mud. Eight for lunch in the William IV, so the group split up, with a mini regroup with 2 sandwich eaters at the NT cafe for tea.
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