Walk 2 : Woldingham to Oxted

Close to London, this walk combines stretches of both The North Downs Way, and the Greensand Way.

Length	Main Walk: 17 km (10.6 miles). Four hours 30 minutes walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 7 hours 30 minutes. Short Walk: 11¼ km (7 miles). Three hours walking time.
OS Map	Explorer 146. Woldingham, map reference TQ359563, is in Surrey, 2 km S of Warlingham.
Streetmaps
Toughness	4 out of 10 (2 out of 10 for the Short Walk).
Features	This walk is only just outside the London boundary, and yet the first part through the valleys of Marden Park feels completely rural. There are several places on the North Downs Way between Oxted Downs and Gravelly Hill which would make good picnic spots; the fine views along this section just about compensate for the incessant grumbling from the M25 below. The section along the Greensand Way from Godstone to Oxted is quite different, with attractive villages and greens. The landscape here is dotted with ponds, interesting churches and plenty of pubs. There is a long but gradual ascent at the start, followed by several up and down stretches on the North Downs Way before descending into Godstone. The first section along the North Downs ridge can be muddy, and after heavy rain the morning short cut is recommended. The afternoon section is less tiring, although still with some gentle inclines along the Greensand Way.
Shortening the Walk	Two short cuts are described for the Main Walk, reducing it by up to 3 km. The Short Walk can be reduced to just 7½ km. If you want to abandon the Main Walk at lunchtime, bus routes 409/410/411 operated by Metrobus (01293-449191) and Southdown PSV (01342-719619) go through Godstone Green. At the time of writing, there are half-hourly buses Mon–Sat N to Caterham and Upper Warlingham stations, W to Redhill, and (hourly) E to Oxted, but no service at all on Sundays. If you want to finish the walk at Old Oxted, Oxted Station is 1 km to the NE of the village. You can reach it directly by heading down the High Street, across the A25, along Church Lane and ahead at the roundabout into Station Road West.
Transport	Trains go from London Victoria to Woldingham, journey time 32 minutes. Oxted is one stop further down the line, so buy a day return to Oxted. The return service is similar, and on weekdays there is also an hourly fast service from Oxted to London Bridge. If driving, park at Woldingham in the station car park (free on Sundays). Alternatively, parking space is usually available in Church Road. There are half-hourly trains for the short journey back from Oxted.
Saturday Walkers Club	Take the train nearest to 09:50 from Victoria to Woldingham. If you catch the one after this, do the morning short cut. For the Short Walk, take the train nearest to 10:50.
Train Times
Lunch	Godstone has three pubs around its large village green. Walkers tend to go for the Hare & Hounds (01883-742296), with the White Hart Beefeater (01883-742521) and the more up-market Bell Inn (01883-741877) as alternatives. On the Short Walk, Old Oxted also has three pubs, close together on its short High Street. Choose from the Old Bell (Chef & Brewer, 01883-712181), the George Inn (01883-713453) and the Crown Inn (01883-717853). In case this is not enough, there are also pubs along the afternoon route: Tandridge has the Barley Mow (01883-713770) and Broadham Green the Haycutter Inn (01883-712550).
Tea	Robertson's (01883-712777) in Station Road West, Oxted, is the recommended tea stop; it serves tea, coffee and light meals up to 4.30pm, Mon–Sat. There is also a Caffè Nero (01883-730220) in Station Road East and a conveniently placed JD Wetherspoon's pub next to the station, the Oxted Inn (01883-723440).

Travel by Train	Out: Back:
Travel by Car	Start: Woldingham Station is near : CR3 7LQ [gmap] Finish: Oxted Station is near : RH8 0QD [gmap] Return to your car by train: (park at the start) at 4pm (park at the end) at 10am
OS Explorer Map	146 : Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate [Amazon]
Other North Downs (Surrey) Walks	Wanborough to Godalming, Boxhill to Leatherhead, Merstham to Epsom Downs, Guildford via Chantries Hill Circular, Boxhill Circular,

Walking Instructions 

Walk Options ( Main | Short )

Click on any option to show the sections making up that route, or the heading above to show all sections.

Main Walk, via Godstone (17 km)

Main Walk, with short cut (morning) (15 km)

Main Walk, with alternative route (afternoon) (16 km)

Main Walk, with short cut and alternative route (14 km)

Short Walk, omitting Godstone (11¼ km)

Short Walk, omitting Tandridge loop (7½ km)

Walk Directions

Click on any section heading to switch between detailed directions and an outline, or the heading above to do the same for all sections.

Woldingham Station to Church Road Farm (½ km)

Turn right out of the station and go along Church Road for 500m.

Leave the station through its car park and turn sharp right up Church Road. There is a board on the left with a map of Marden Park¹ and the Woldingham Countryside Walk² (WCW). Go SE along this minor road for about 500m to Church Road Farm, with fields up to your left and the railway down to your right.

To take a short cut to South Lodge, reducing the Main Walk by 2 km – useful if you started half an hour late! – go to §4.

Church Road Farm to Oxted Downs (2½ km)

Continue ahead past Church Road Farm. In 600m, turn right onto a path, which goes over the railway tunnel and through a wood. Go left at a T-junction, then fork right to South Hawke. Cross the minor road there and turn right onto the North Downs Way to reach a viewpoint on Oxted Downs.

Approaching the farm buildings, continue ahead past a No Through Road sign. After 300m along this unmade-up lane, ignore footpaths off to both sides, but at a WCW signpost in another 300m, go down a few steps on the right and cross a stile. The path heads slightly away from the lane and then zig-zags right and left over the entrance to a railway tunnel. Cross a stile and turn left to follow the path S for 600m as it goes gently uphill through a mossy wood.

After a final climb you come to a T-junction marked by a three-way signpost. Turn left, then in 100m take a right fork signposted to South Hawke, now heading SE. Great Church Wood³ is on your left, and soon there are views across the valley on your right. In 1 km, just after a gate into Marden Park Woods on your right, the path ends at South Hawke car park on Gangers Hill road.

Cross this narrow road carefully and go right for a few metres to descend a flight of steps. Turn right at the bottom of the steps onto the North Downs Way (NDW), heading SW. After 150m, where the scrub has been cleared away by the Downlands Countryside Management Project, there is a bench at the top of Oxted Downs from which to admire a fine view to the SE, with Oxted and Limpsfield⁴ on the other side of the M25. The woods behind them and to their left are known as the High Chart, while in the distance is the high ground of the Sussex Weald.

To take the Short Walk, omitting Godstone and going directly to Old Oxted, go to §10.

Oxted Downs to South Lodge (2 km)

Continue on the North Downs Way, later rejoining the road you crossed earlier. Turn left into Tandridge Hill Lane and take a path alongside it downhill and round to the right, then back uphill. Cross a road and go through a wood to a clearing, then steeply downhill to South Lodge.

Continue SW on the NDW. 75m after the bench, ignore a bridleway which continues ahead into the woods, but follow the main path uphill and to the right until it bends left to continue alongside Gangers Hill road. This path ends at a four-way sign; ignore the footpaths off to the left and right and continue along the road in the same direction.

At a junction after 75m, turn left into a single-track road (Tandridge Hill Lane), taking the footpath on its right after 25m. Follow this path as it goes alongside the road, downhill and later curving to the right with the road. The path then descends a few steps to almost rejoin the road, continuing alongside it for a short distance. Cross a stile and take the signposted bridleway ahead into Hanging Wood. Continue uphill, with a small field on your right, until you emerge at a road (Gangers Hill again).

Cross this road and go up some steps opposite to a gap in the fence. Continue NW along this well-defined path through the woods, turning half-left after 250m at a NDW signpost. Eventually you come out at a clearing with a bench and views of Godstone and Tilburstow Hill. The path continues steeply downhill to leave Marden Park through a gap in the fence, where it merges with a trackway from the left and then meets a private road from the right in front of South Lodge.

To continue the Main Walk, go to §5.

Church Road Farm to South Lodge (2½ km)

Turn right at Church Road Farm and follow the bridleway past Woldingham School. Turn right and then bear left through the school gates onto a driveway which goes through the grounds of Marden Park to South Lodge.

Just before the farm buildings, turn right to cross the railway, following the directions on the WCW signpost in the bushes on the left. The track bends left past some newly-built cottages to reach Marden Park Farm. Continue ahead past the farm buildings, ignoring footpaths off to both sides. This bridleway now goes S between hedges for 1 km, rising gently above the valley on your right.

Ignore a path off to the left signposted to South Hawke and continue downhill past the buildings of Woldingham School. After passing a small cemetery on your left, ignore a stile and a footpath heading straight on up a field, and turn right downhill for 75m.

If you have a map and feel like a diversion, this footpath provides another attractive route to the NDW, which you join in §3 near the junction with Tandridge Hill Lane. However, the maze of tracks through Marden Park Woods can be quite confusing.

At the bottom of the slope, turn left through the school gates, heading first S and later SW past the school's sports fields and then open fields. Follow this private drive for 1¼ km until it leaves Marden Park at South Lodge, where you turn right onto the North Downs Way (NDW).

South Lodge to Gravelly Hill (2 km)

Continue along the North Downs Way, soon passing Godstone Vineyard. Follow the signposts to reach a footbridge over the A22. On the other side, turn left and follow the NDW as it winds its way through a wood, eventually reaching the viewpoint at Gravelly Hill.

Continue W along the NDW (which you follow all the way to Gravelly Hill). The path bends left and right, then passes a small vineyard and some cottages on the left. Where a fence on your left ends, turn left to go alongside the fence, as signposted. The path goes down some steps and veers to the right to meet an access road.

Simply continuing ahead at the four-way signpost and bending left on the road in front of a large furniture works would bring you to the same point.

Cross the road and climb some steps. The uphill path curves left and then right to head NW, soon merging with a sunken byway from the left. Join this rather unappealing track heading N, but in 150m, soon after some open fields appear on the right, cross a stile on the left onto a path which leads to a new footbridge across the A22.

On the other side of the bridge, follow the NDW sign left into a wood. The path twists round to the right and climbs two short flights of steps; turn left at the top, following the NDW sign. Soon there is another flight of steps and again you turn left at the top. The path then straightens out, heading SW.

When you reach a four-way signpost after a gentle climb, continue ahead past a small clearing on your right. The path then bends right uphill past a bench, and 200m later comes out onto an open patch of ground alongside Gravelly Hill road, with more benches and a board describing the view to the South Downs.

Gravelly Hill to Godstone (2½ km)

Continue on the North Downs Way, bearing left onto a path going downhill through an avenue of trees. Leave the NDW by forking left twice, which leads to a farm track going over the M25. On the other side, go past the Orpheus Centre and take the second footpath on the left. This goes across a field, then through trees and past some disused reservoirs to reach Godstone.

Continue W alongside the road, taking either of two paths half-left into the trees at the end of the open ground (they soon merge). This becomes an attractive path between yew trees, going gently downhill. After 400m take the left fork (leaving the North Downs Way), now going more steeply downhill, and at the next junction again take the left fork. This track continues downhill, eventually coming out onto a farm road in front of the M25. Turn left and follow the road S onto a bridge across the motorway, which leads to the Orpheus Centre⁵.

Ignore the first footpath on the left just after these buildings, but in 75m take another footpath on the left. Turn half-right on the other side of the hedge and head SE across the field towards a wood. Cross a works access road and then go over a stile into the trees. Continue on a path between hedges, soon with disused reservoirs on both sides. At the end the path enters a field and heads towards some houses; leave the field through a gate and turn right to reach Godstone green⁶.

The Hare & Hounds pub on the left is a possible lunch stop; to reach the others cross the A25 carefully and continue SE on the village green alongside the road. The White Hart Beefeater is on the other side of the road near the village pond; the Bell Inn is just past the end of the green.

Godstone to Tandridge Lane (3 km)

Leave Godstone on a path to the right of the White Hart, which goes past Bay Pond and comes out onto Church Lane. Go through the churchyard opposite onto a path which winds past Glebe Water and eventually up to a large field. Turn right and follow the path round to the left past some past old stables. Turn right to go between Leigh Place Ponds, then zig-zag left and right past Leigh Mill House to meet the Greensand Way. Turn left and follow this path up to and across the A22, then across farmland for nearly 1 km to Tandridge Lane.

Leave Godstone by a tarmac path heading E to the right of the White Hart, signposted to the Parish Church. You pass to the right of White Hart Barn and then Bay Pond⁷ comes into view on the left. Continue until the path comes out onto Church Lane, opposite St Nicholas' Church⁸.

A short detour to the right will take you to the attractive mock-Tudor St Mary's almshouses; the chapel (on your left as you go in) is open to the public.

Enter the churchyard⁹ and pass to the right of the church, where the path curves slightly to the right and goes downhill. Where the path leaves the churchyard, continue in the same direction along a narrow path with a “Private Fishing” sign high up in the trees ahead, and follow this path as it bends around Glebe Water. At the end of the pond the path bends right and soon meets a strange avenue of conifers (why are they so close together?); here the path curves left up a field and then through a small copse.

On reaching an open field, turn right and follow a footpath down the side of the field, heading S. Go past a gate with a redundant stile to leave the field, joining a bridleway coming in from the right, and follow this track round to the left in front of some old stables.

50m after the stables, take a signposted footpath on the right over a stile. This leads downhill to a path between Leigh Place Ponds, a very attractive spot. At the end of the pond on your left, cross a stile on the left to walk alongside this pond, turning right at the end to go past Leigh Mill House and then a tennis court. You soon reach a T-junction and turn left to join the Greensand Way (GW) heading E. Follow this path gently uphill, staying close to the fence on your right when the path forks. At the top of the rise continue ahead to meet the A22.

Cross this busy road carefully and go through a gate to continue on the GW, still heading E. You now follow this path through farmland for 900m, at first gently uphill and then down to a dip where you pass through a gap in some trees and head slightly left. Eventually you come out between houses onto Tandridge Lane.

To take an alternative afternoon route for the Main Walk, continuing along the Greensand Way, go to §13.

Tandridge Lane to St Peter's Church (½ km)

Take a path to the right of the Barley Mow and follow it round to the left until it comes out onto Tandridge Lane again. Continue along the road to St Peter's Church.

Cross Tandridge Lane, turn right for a few metres to go past the Barley Mow, and take a path (imaginatively named The Walk) to the right of the pub. This bends left behind the pub; follow it uphill (ignoring a right fork) until it comes out onto Tandridge Lane again.

Continue N on the road, and just after a minor road junction, turn right into St Peter's churchyard⁸. The church itself is usually locked, but you can admire its magnificent ancient yew tree.

St Peter's Church to Old Oxted (2 km)

Turn left past the old yew tree to return to Tandridge Lane and take a footpath on the right which leads up to and across a golf course. On the other side of the course, turn right onto a tarmac path above the A25 which then joins a minor road leading into Old Oxted.

Turn left between the ancient yew tree and the church to meet Tandridge Lane again, and then almost immediately take a footpath off to the right into a small copse. At the end of the trees, cross a driveway and pass through a kissing gate into a field. Follow the path uphill to another gate, which leads you onto a golf course.

The path heads NE, slightly downhill through trees. Where these end, continue ahead in the same direction, aiming just to the left of a house. You then take the tarmac drive that starts alongside the house and follow it all the way through the golf course. Where the path crosses the golf club's access road and leaves the course, turn right onto a tarmac path above the A25. This soon descends and then starts to curve away from the main road, following the course of the old Godstone Road. A slip road from the A25 joins from the left and you continue to a crossroads in the centre of Old Oxted, whose shops – and pubs! – are worth exploring.

To continue with the Main Walk, go to §15.

Oxted Downs to Old Oxted (2½ km)

Go down the left edge of the field in front of you, then veer right on a path heading steeply down the face of the Downs. Head for a footbridge over the M25 and follow the bridleway to Barrow Green Road. Continue across a field past The Mount and Townland Pond to Sandy Lane. Turn right along the lane to reach Old Oxted.

Looking SE from the viewpoint on Oxted Downs, go through a gate near the left edge of the fence in front of you, signposted as a footpath. At first, the path is not clearly defined; stay near the left edge of the field until you see the path heading half-right and steeply downhill across the face of the North Downs.

At the bottom of the slope, cross a stile into a field and continue ahead until you leave this field via another stile, meeting a bridleway coming in from the right. Cross the M25 footbridge – to be greeted by numerous “Private Property” signs – and continue undaunted on this bridleway for 750m. You pass the buildings of Barrow Green Court behind a high security fence on your left, and farm buildings on your right where the path meets Barrow Green Road.

Cross the road and go through a kissing gate to take the footpath directly opposite, still heading SE. You pass The Mount on your right and head towards Townland Pond, which you later pass on your right behind a small copse of trees. When you reach Sandy Lane, turn right and go S along the lane for 200m to pass underneath the A25 and uphill to a crossroads in Old Oxted, with the Old Bell pub on your left.

This pub is a possible lunch stop; to reach the others turn left down the High Street. The George Inn is visible up ahead and the Crown Inn is a little further down on the right. Alternatively, there are pubs in Tandridge, Broadham Green and Oxted itself further on in the walk.

To omit the loop to Tandridge on the Short Walk, go to §15.

Old Oxted to St Peter's, Tandridge (2 km)

Leave Old Oxted on the old Godstone road, continuing ahead on a tarmac path when the road bends right to join the A25. After climbing above the main road, turn left onto a path which leads across a golf course. On the other side go down through a field and through trees onto Tandridge Lane. Turn left and go into the churchyard ahead.

From any of the pubs, return up the High Street to the crossroads by the Old Bell and now continue straight ahead along the old Godstone Road, heading W. Where the road bends right to join the A25, continue ahead on the old road which then becomes a tarmac path. This soon meets the main road and starts to climb high above the level of the road, giving views of the North Downs. Just after the path starts to descend, turn left onto a tarmac path and cross a golf club's access road.

Follow the public footpath across the golf course. For most of the way the footpath is a tarmac drive; this soon swings right to head SW, giving views of the High Weald on the left before heading into trees. Where the drive ends in a turning circle beside a house, with no obvious path ahead, continue across the grass in the same direction, aiming for a small copse of trees. A yellow footpath sign then comes into view leading you onto a defined path through the trees. Follow this path, slightly uphill, until you reach the edge of the golf course.

Leave the course through a kissing gate and go downhill through a field to another gate. Cross a driveway and continue on a footpath heading slightly left through a small copse until you come out onto Tandridge Lane. Turn left, and where the road soon curves right, continue ahead up a path into St Peter's churchyard⁸, with its magnificent ancient yew tree.

St Peter's, Tandridge to the Greensand Way (½ km)

Turn right past the old yew tree to return to Tandridge Lane. Almost immediately, turn left onto a bridleway which curves right past a farm shop and goes downhill to join the Greensand Way.

Turn right after the yew tree, leaving the churchyard by the main gate to meet Tandridge Lane again and turn left. Ignore the first driveway on the left, but take the next one with a large sign for Tandridge Court Farm (and a less conspicuous Public Bridleway sign). The path soon curves right past the farm shop and goes downhill, heading SE. At the bottom, ignore a driveway on the left and continue ahead on the track. The track itself then curves left, with a footpath (the Greensand Way) soon joining from a field on the right.

To continue the Short Walk, go to §14.

The Greensand Way through Tandridge (¼ km)

Take a path to the right of the Barley Mow and follow it round to the left. Fork right onto a footpath which goes over the brow of a small hill and descends to meet a track coming in from the left.

Cross Tandridge Lane to the Barley Mow opposite, and take the path to the right of the pub. 100m after the path bends left behind the pub, and opposite a house “Ashdown”, take a narrow footpath to the right of a hedge. This soon curves round to the right and enters a field, heading E again. After the brow of a small hill the path bears left and descends to meet a track coming in from the left.

The Greensand Way from Tandridge to Oxted Mill (2 km)

Continue along the bridleway for about 1¼ km to reach Broadham Green Road. Cross over and turn half-left across a small green to continue along Tanhouse Lane. Turn left at the Haycutter Inn onto a footpath leading across fields to Oxted Mill.

Continue E along this bridleway, sometimes between trees but often with views on the right across farmland to the High Weald. The track can be muddy in places, but after 800m it becomes a tarmac driveway. In 200m you cross a driveway to Oxted Place, and continue E along the bridleway for another 200m to reach Broadham Green Road.

Cross the road and turn half-left, crossing Broadham Green diagonally to meet Tanhouse Lane. Continue E along this lane for another 150m to the Haycutter Inn. Cross the road here and take a footpath across a stile into fields, heading N. In the third field, the way ahead is over a stile to the left of a large house, along a path between hedges. Follow this path out to Spring Lane and turn right.

To complete the walk, go to §16.

Old Oxted to Oxted Mill (¾ km)

Leave Old Oxted on Beadles Lane and turn left at the Old School. Take a footpath on the right of a driveway which curves round to the right to reach Oxted Mill.

At the crossroads by the Old Bell, take Beadles Lane S for 200m and turn left at the Old School House into Springfield. Continue ahead onto a driveway where this lane bends left and in 25m take a footpath to its right. This path soon curves round to the right, with a stream and then a mill pond appearing on your left. Follow the path out to Spring Lane and turn left.

Oxted Mill to Oxted Station (1¼ km)

Go past the old mill and take a footpath on the left across a field, which comes out onto Woodhurst Lane. Turn left along the road, then in 100m turn half-left onto an enclosed footpath which leads to the A25. Cross over and take East Hill Road opposite down to a roundabout. Turn right here into Station Road West to reach Oxted Station.

With the converted Oxted Mill on your right, walk a few metres along the lane and go over the stile on your left at the weir. This footpath heads NE across a field, soon with an attractive stream and gardens on your left. The path crosses a small bridge and then bears right up a driveway to join Woodhurst Lane, where you turn left.

After 100m take a narrow footpath half-left at the junction with Woodhurst Park, heading N uphill between fences for 200m to meet the A25. Cross this busy road carefully and continue ahead on East Hill Road, going downhill to a roundabout. Turn right here into Station Road West, which leads directly to the station.

If you arrive before 4.30pm, Robertson's on the right in a parade of shops is a possible tea place (but is closed on Sundays). For Caffè Nero, which is open until 6pm on weekdays and 5pm on Sundays, go under the railway and turn left into Station Road East.

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» Last updated: October 21, 2009