Time Out Country Walks near London Volume 1
Walk 49 : Boxhill to Leatherhead
River Mole, Happy Valley & White Hill
| Length | 11.5km (7.1 miles), 3 hours 30 minutes. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 6 hours 30 minutes. |
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| OS Landranger Map | No.187. Boxhill & Westhumble Station, map reference TQ 167 518, is in Surrey, 5km south of Leatherhead. |
| Toughness | 7 out of 10. |
| Features | Boxhill derives its name from the box trees there - yew trees are also found on its chalky slopes, with beech and oak up on top, where the ground is clay and flint. The suggested route involves crossing the River Mole on stepping stones (or detouring if these are under water), before going up on the North Downs Way, with views out over the valley. Then it follows the Happy Valley path northwards, below Lodge Hill and Juniper Top (a valley of moss and lichen-covered trees); then up White Hill to Mickleham Downs, and down to Lunch opposite the church in Mickleham. After lunch, the route is along the River Mole valley, through Norbury Park, into the centre of Leatherhead. This route can be slippery at times when wet and has two steep climbs, one up to the top of Boxhill and one, very steep, up White Hill. |
| Shortening the Walk | You could call for a taxi from the Boxhill Tavern, the pub at the top of Boxhill. Or you could catch one of the buses that go once every two hours (once an hour on Sundays) from near the pub in Mickleham to Leatherhead. For bus information call TraveLine on 01737 223 000. |
| History |
Boxhill & Westhumble Station was built in 1867, in polychrome brick with stone dressings, as part of an agreement with the landowner that it should be 'of an ornamental character'. Boxhill, 172 metres above sea level, contains Bronze Age burial mounds. Daniel Defoe described scenes of drinking, dancing and debauchery on Boxhill; Jane Austen placed the picnic scene in Emma hhere; John Keats climbed Boxhill by moonlight whilst composing Endymion; and John Logie Baird conducted his TV experiments from the summit. The area was given to the nation by Leopolds Solomon of Norbury Park, in 1914, and is now in the care of the National Trust. Box trees used to be in demand for making woodcut blocks and mathematical rulers - box wood is heavy and does not float in water. St Michael's Church, Mickleham, has Saxon and Norman origins and was renovated by the Victorians. Its chancel is noticeably out of alignment with the nave - 'a weeping chancel, to suggest the head of Christ leaning on the cross'. The poet and novelist George Meredith lived at Flint Cottage in Mickleham. The River Mole is thought to have got its name from a tendency to disappear underground in dry weather near Dorking. It rises near Crawley in Sussex, to join the Thames near Hampton Court. Thorncroft Manor was completed in the 1770s, when Capability Brown worked on the gardens, creating a bridge and island on the river. It was used by Canadian troops during World War II. |
| Lunch | The suggested lunchtime stop is the Running Horses pub (tel 01372 372 279), Old London Road, Mickleham, which has a log fire in winter. It serves good food from midday to 2.30pm daily. Those wanting lunch earlier in the walk could stop at the less appealing Boxhill Tavern tel 01737 842 338), which advertises itself as the highest tavern in Surrey, 'with the biggest menu and the best value'. |
| Driving |
Start: Box Hill & Westhumble Station is near : RH5 6BT. [gmap] Finish: Leatherhead Station is near : KT22 7SQ. [gmap] |
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| Train Travel |
London to Box Hill & Westhumble | Leatherhead to London |
| Warning | The text above was taken from an older edition of the book, and is a little out of date. Please check the updates for this walk. |
Walking Instructions
For a map and detailed walking instruction, please see Time Out Country Walks near London Volume 1
