Box Hill to Leatherhead walk
Short, 2 steep climbs and the view from Box Hill in the morning, and a gentle river valley after lunch
History
This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.
Date | Post | # | Weather |
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Wed, | Wednesday walk Box Hill to Leatherhead (or back to Box Hill) - River Mole, Box Hill, Juniper Top, White Hill, Mickleham - then on to Leatherhead or back to Box Hill | 20 | crisp and cold and delightfully sunny all day |
Sat, | Saturday walk - Box Hill to Leatherhead (or Box Hill Circular) | 14 | cloudy with sunny spells |
Sat, | Saturday walk - A Box Hill walk with oodles of options | 11 | cloudy |
Thu, | Evening Walk: Sunset on Boxhill | 7 | sunny warm conditions perfect for a sunset walk |
Thu, | Thursday Evening Sunset Walk to Boxhill | 8 | clear skies with some cloud for perfect sunset conditions |
Sat, | Saturday walk - Box Hill to Leatherhead - a traditional pre-Christmas treat | 20 | gorgeous sunny day |
Sat, | Saturday First Walk - a pre-Christmas favourite | 10 | cloudy but dry |
Sun, | Sunday Walk 1 – Two steep hills and the Mole valley | 10 | dry some mist in the morning and brighter later |
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | 21 | |
Wed, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Fri, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sat, | Box Hill to Leatherhead | ||
Sun, | Box Hill to Leatherhead |
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04-Jan-22
Does anyone know what happened to the walk route in green gone to? The map of the walk is there but not the green directions?
Monica
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04-Jan-22
@Monica. Yes, something was broken.
(Long answer: I started to change something to handle the edge case of 2+ markers in the same place, e.g. 3 walks starting from the same station. Then I forgot about it. This broke the bits I hadn't yet changed. Later I came across these broken bits and, wondering why, fixed them, thus breaking the bits I had previously changed. Javascript doesn't handle errors very gracefully, it just stops. The 'green' lines are drawn after the start/stop markers, so they never got drawn)
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05-Jan-22
Many thanks Andrew I can see the green line is back on SWC walk routes. Many thanks for for fixing it.
Monica.
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05-Jan-22
With some later starters, some of whom caught up with us at lunchtime, we numbered a nice round 20 today. After the dreary, mild, yucky weather over most of the festive period, what a joy it was to walk today in proper winter weather: crisp and cold and delightfully sunny all day . More, please !
It was muddy in places, as to be expected, and the ascents of Box Hill and White Hill proved challenging for some of us oldies: with the passing years these climbs do not get any easier - and I cannot think why.
Arriving in Mickleham at the Running Horses pub, eight of us dined in the pub's restaurant area, and a number of our picnickers had a drink in the cosier bar area. Our dishes arrived promptly - beautifully presented, and although helpings looked to be on the modest side, the food was delicious and surprisingly filling. With friendly staff attending to all our needs, this pub lunch experience was an excellent one. More, please !
After lunch, most walkers set off to return to Box Hill, by two routes, and one walker called in to Denbies for tea - I'm not sure what the others did. I donned my anti-social hat and set off alone to Leatherhead, to book check the afternoon leg of the official TO Book route.
A lovely winter's day walk - but after all those steep steps, some of us will have a few aches come tomorrow.............
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10-Dec-20
I'd love to suggest a walk but, as I live in a Tier 3 area, I'm only allowed to be in a "gathering" outside with one other person.
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10-Dec-20
We might be in the same position soon, judging by the latest news reports....
But someone has said they might put up a post
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10-Dec-20
But are you sure you have the Tier Three rules correct? I just checked and "the rule of six" seems to still apply in Tiuer Three: you are just not supposed to travel outside your area
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#very-high-alert
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10-Dec-20
Actually, @Walker is right (well, half right - there aren't any restrictions on travel, as such.) The legislation in question (The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020, since you ask) says:
(2) No person living in the Tier 3 area may participate in a gathering outside that area which
(a)takes place outdoors ........ and consists of more than six people,
So, yes, the "Rule of Six" would apply to SWC walks.
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11-Dec-20
It should be less about the legislation and more about the objectives of the restrictions. Our emphasis should be about minimising risk of spreading, not what we can get away with.
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11-Dec-20
I entirely agree with PeteG - infection rates are rising alarmingly in West Kent - and East Sussex isn't looking too special, either. Box Hill & Brockham, on the other hand, is improving.
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13-Dec-20
BOX HILL TO LEATHERHEAD Walk 49 with an option to do a very scenic loup back to Box Hill station Sat 12 Dec 20
14 on this walk (13 at the station and 1 joined near the NT café), on a day cloudy with sunny spells . We broke up into our small groups and set off speedily as there were no less than 4 walking groups congregating separately in the forecourt.
This was a very strenuous walk, but great views to be had throughout the walk. 6 of us had lunch in the churchyard new the King William iv pub in Mickleham. We then continued in weather which got sunnier; indeed looking across we could see Juniper Hill in full sunlight. As we finished the walk in good time, and having a desire to extend the walk a little (in reality looking for tea), we were guided by one of our group to Denbies tea room. Here some of us got a takeaway, and others sat down indoors for a well earned cuppa tea, cake or sandwich. Then continued onto Dorking through the vineyard in the gathering dusk.
En route to Denbies, our path crossed with that of one of our walkposters who was completing a different walk, and who cheered us by confirming that the tea room was indeed open.
A lovely walk.
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10-Oct-20
Was anyone on the Victoria train? Seven got off the Waterloo one and another arrived at lunch, having got a train an hour later. So 8 . But no Victorians were seen all day. If there were any, please file a separate report.
Talk about social distancing. On the train there was a group of 40+ youth: some kind of school group? Inevitably they all got off at Box Hill station and it was quite a job disentangling from them.
We seven quickly drew lots to see who had to walk by themselves (....) and then set off to do the book one route, with its two whopper hill climbs. Five had lunch on the patio of the King William IV, adding more and more layers to keep warm under the cloudy skies. We were the first to order and so got our food quickly.
We never saw the sandwichers again, but acquired number eight at the pub and so were six when we left. We set off to do the afternoon of the Box Hill Circular, with its malicious, not to say sadistic, delight in sending us up hill and down dale. There was at times some lovely autumn colour. Special mention today goes to dogwood, which was everywhere a riot of maroon and red.
After the final near vertical climb up onto Box Hill we found the National Trust tea kiosk miraculously free of a queue. The reason for this was soon apparent: they were “unable to serve hot drinks”, the THIRD time the NT has let me down in this way this summer. So we went down to Ryka’s, which seems to find marrying hot water to a tea bag less of a logistical challenge.
Three then went to get the 5.05 train at Box Hill and three of us walked via Denbies Vineyard to Dorking. The autumn colour on this section was excellent, including yellow vine leaves, and large golden patches on birch, beech and Swedish whitebeam. I should mention too that colours on the descent from Box Hill were good too.
We severally got the 18.05 to Waterloo and the 18.07 to Victoria, in the former of which I pen these lines.
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10-Oct-20
So 11 in all
Distance: 7.1 miles or 11.5 km for those more metrically minded
Difficulty: 6 out of 10
Train: 17:24 Dorking train from London Waterloo, arriving Boxhill at 18:10 – buy a day return to Boxhill &Wetshumble
Return: Trains from Boxhill are at 21:40, 22:35 and 23:02
I would call this a “transitional shoulder-season” evening walk…starting in daylight, enjoying the sunset from Boxhill (especially on the descent along Juniper Top) followed by a meal in Mickleham and finishing (a short distance) in the dark along a valley path…About 8 of us tried this last year and found that it worked well....arriving at the pub just before dark and making our way easily along a very clear path at the edge of the woods back to Boxhill station. More information about the route can be found here, bring both instructions and map print-out...
Enjoy the walk!
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19-Sep-19
the gpx suggests it's 10.4 km only, back along the valley route...?
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20-Sep-19
Six off the designated train, including 4 repeat customers from last year's outing and one her very first SWC walk (who was not at all concerned about finishing in the dark....) We set off in sunny warm conditions perfect for a sunset walk and seemed to have Box Hill to ourselves in the lovely evening light with nice views over Dorking and the valley below. We arrived at the west facing Juniper Top just after the sun had set -- but the sky was a deep red providing a great backdrop for a picturesque silhouette of trees on the horizon (really spectacular). We took the route direct to the William IV, arriving just as complete darkness fell (slightly before 8pm). During a convivial evening meal, a 7th who had started later and gone to the Running Horses joined us for a post meal drink and rather jolly jaunt in the dark back to Box Hill through atmospheric woods with some nice stars and a 3/4 moon....So, a total of 7 on this most enjoyable evening...
Distance: 7.1 miles or 11.5 km for those more metrically minded
Difficulty: 6 out of 10
Train: 17:24 Dorking train from London Waterloo, arriving Boxhill at 18:09
Return: Trains from Boxhill are at 21:40, 22:19; and 23:02
I would call this a “transitional shoulder-season” evening walk…starting in daylight, enjoying the sunset from Boxhill followed by a meal in Mickleham and finishing (a short distance) in the dark along a valley path…More information about the route can be found here.
Ps: You may want to bring a head torch....
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14-Sep-18
Much to my very pleasant surprise, 8 assembled on the platform at Boxhill for this slightly unusual evening walk under clear skies with some cloud for perfect sunset conditions . For a change the weather actually cooperated with the hoped for atmospheric conditions and we were rewarded with a lovely sunset from the top of Boxhill and during the descent from Juniper Top. We arrived at the King William the 4th just as real darkness descended where pretty much all enjoyed a very tasty meal before setting off about 21:00 for the final stretch back to Boxhill in the dark. It was an atmospheric journey contouring the base of a hill in and out of woods....with some nice star sightings (including Mars) and some owls hooting...Arrived back in Boxhill about 22:00 just as a train was pulling in...so -- we hopped aboard to see where it would take us...
Length: 11.5km (7.1 miles) - but see ** below
Toughness: 7 out of 10
9.31 train from Victoria (9.37 Clapham Junction, 9.59 Sutton) to Box Hill & Westhumble, arriving at 10.21
Buy a day return to Box Hill & Westhumble.
For walk directions click here. For GPX click here.
Back in the early days of the SWC, when the world was young and Saturdays were always sunny, this was a popular outing in the run-up to Christmas. An energetic (there are two big steep hill climbs) but exhilarating morning, including fine views from Box Hill and Juniper Top, takes you Mickleham where the Running Horses is a great place for a festive lunch. After lunch there is just a short walk up the valley (an hour or so at most) to Leatherhead for tea. In short, a perfect outing for the shortest days of the year.
Latterly, as we have become more energetic ourselves, some find this original ending a bit tame, but the walk directions now includes a ** more vigorous afternoon option, which is to loop back through wooded hills to Box Hill station. This is a bit longer than the Leatherhead route but mainly just more hilly. (It could be extended a bit further, map-led, to have tea at Denbies Vineyard, if we can get there before it closes at 4.30pm. It is possible that my good friend Will Emerge may pop up to guide you on this route).
One word of warning about the morning route: as well as two big steep climbs (both on steps), it has one steep and rather treacherous descent to Mickleham. Take care on this: wet leaves on slippy chalk are not a good combination. Whether a less steep route is available on the alternative paths zig-zagging to the right is something a public-spirited person might check out.
The Running Horses is a deservedly popular pub. I have picked a train to get us there early so as to have a better chance of getting fed (and also made a modest booking). The alternative nearby is the not-unpopular King William IV. Otherwise, the Smith & Western, an American-themed restaurant about halfway through the morning (just before you turn inland off the Box Hill escarpment) is not a bad place to eat. It might be a good idea to phone to check availability at these places at the start of the walk.
Leatherhead is not short of tea places. Allow ten to fifteen minutes to walk from the high street to the station. Trains back from here are at 05, 11, 23, 33, 41 and 53 past the hour, the 05 and 33 going to Victoria, the others to Waterloo, with no major difference in travel times.
If you end at Box Hill trains are at 28 past till 18.28, then 19.01 and 01 past, though if you get to Denbies for tea it probably makes more sense to walk to Dorking which has several trains an hour. (Easiest route: walk down the driveway out of the estate, then veer right just after the railway bridge to shadow the main road to a roundabout, then keep ahead on pavements until the station entrance appears on the left: about 25 minutes walking: doable in the dark). T=1.49
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I can't make it on Saturday but yes, there is a less steep descent (see warning in 3rd para) - when you get to the byway (Stane Street) tuen right instead of straight on down the hill. After about 400m there's a bridleway descending sharp left diagonally (not the first footpath after about 150m). This passes a prominent wrecked car and then emerges in Mickleham near the William IV.
It's fairly clear on the 25 000 scale map
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08-Dec-17
Or for an even less steep descent than the one by the wrecked car. Stay on the path up to the ridge of White Hill, bear left on open ground at the top to find the trig point. Then continue ahead on a grass path to reenter the woods to join Stain Street. Turn right for a few yards and then turn left down a broad track with a fence on your right. This is a gentle descent, at the bottom turn left along a broad track with a wall on your right and then take the first right down to the King Billy IV
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09-Dec-17
20 on this walk on a gorgeous sunny day - perfect winter walking weather. A fairly cracking pace was set - almost no stopping for the views. The ground was largely crisp and hard. The two big hill climbs were even bigger than remembered: though short in miles this walk gives you a good workout.
Four of us experimented with a gentler descent to Mickleham - the one described by Sandy, so thanks for that. It worked fairly well but was still a bit slippy in places: one person lost their footing, though no damage was done.
Eight (or nine) lunched at the Running Horses, where a table had been booked. We had a lovely table under a glass roof with the blue sky above. The service was a little snooty - twas ever thus at this establishment - but the food delicious, apart, apparently, from the soup. I think some others lunched in the William IV. After lunch most went on to Leatherhead, even though it was very early, the Christmas market being one attraction. Four of us did the loop back towards Box Hill station, diverting to Denbies Vineyard and its self-service restaurant for tea at the end and getting there at 3.15. We then walked in the gathering dusk to get a 4.26 train from Dorking.
Length: 11.5km (7.1 miles)
Toughness: 7 out of 10: two steep climbs and one steep descent
10.31 train from Victoria (10.37 Clapham Junction, 10.59 Sutton) to Box Hill & Westhumble, arriving 11.21
You can also catch the 10.24 from Waterloo to Epsom, arriving 10.57, picking up the above train there at 11.09.
(Hopefully the Victoria train will not be disrupted by the current union work to rule, but if it is get any train to Clapham Junction. From there there is a South West trains service to Dorking at 11.03, arriving 11.43. Come out the station, go down the station approach, turn right up the main road, and walk for about 500 metres to get to Denbies Wine Estate on the left: at the far end of this turn right to join the North Downs Way, cross the Stepping Stones (or bridge) over the River Mole and join the walk directions in paragraph 8.)
For walk directions click here.
In the old Book 1 rota days this walk was a well-beloved pre-Christmas ritual. It is not long but packs plenty of climbing and fine views into its morning, including the popular climb up Box Hill.
For lunch there is a choice of two pubs in Mickleham, the posh but well-worth it Running Horses or the slightly more bohemian but equally excellent King William IV. Both are very popular and both are worth ringing to try and reserve a table. If both are full, you could try the earlier option of the Smith and Western Bar and Grill.
After Mickleham it is a short and gentle walk to Leatherhead, where the usual high street tea options await. It is a fairly ordinary place, but in the dark with the Christmas lights on usually manages to look quite cheery.
Trains back from Leatherhead are plentiful and you have a choice between Southern ones to Victoria and South Western ones to Waterloo. The Victoria ones are at 05 and 33 past and the Waterloo ones at 11, 23, 41 and 53: all of them take around 45 minutes and all of them, as far as I know, stop at Clapham Junction.
Length: 11.5 km (7.1 miles). Toughness: 7/10
10:10 Dorking train from Victoria, calling at Clapham Junction (10:18) and lots of other south London stations, and arriving Box Hill & Westhumble at 11:06. Buy a day return to Box Hill.
There are four trains an hour back from Leatherhead: to Waterloo at 15 & 45 minutes past, and Victoria at 23 & 53 minutes past.
This Book 1 walk hasn't had a Sunday posting for nearly four years, so is overdue another outing. The morning route includes two steep climbs up Box Hill and then White Hill (both of which could be slippery), but even so I'd have said that overall it's no tougher than the average 5/10 walk. Unless you do the variation mentioned below, the afternoon is a short and easy stroll along the Mole valley.
In theory there's a choice of two lunch pubs in Mickleham (the Running Horses and the King William IV), but on a Sunday two weeks before Christmas they're both likely to be very busy. It would be wise to bring some provisions and treat yourself to an extra-large tea (or a late pub lunch) in Leatherhead.
You'll need to bring Book 1 or print the directions from the Walk 49 page. Note that part of the morning route was changed in the latest edition, with a scenic route descending Juniper Top replacing a rather gloomy stretch along the valley floor.
Circular Walk Option: For an alternative afternoon you could loop round through Norbury Park and return to Box Hill station, which has trains to Victoria at 18 & 48 minutes past. You can get tea at the Pilgrim Cycles shop (01306-886958) in the station building and stronger fare at the nearby Stepping Stones pub (01306-889932). Some brief directions for two possible circular routes are at the bottom of the online version. T=1.49
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11-Dec-15
Yes I am hoping to be here. Two big hills before lunch is just what the doctor ordered
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11-Dec-15
The 'Hill option' back to Box Hill station is about the same distance as the standard book route to Leatherhead (but tougher); the 'Valley option' is about 1km shorter.
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10 -or-11
dry some mist in the morning and brighter later
A scenic and energetic walk and not too much mud. Most took a diversion or two in the morning to Juniper Top and The Gallops before an excellent lunch at the King William IV.
Fortified by lunch, a few took the hill route back to Box Hill Station while others opted for the more leisurely route on to Leatherhead.
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10 -or-11
dry some mist in the morning and brighter later
A scenic and energetic walk and not too much mud. Most took a diversion or two in the morning to Juniper Top and The Gallops before an excellent lunch at the King William IV.
Fortified by lunch, a few took the hill route back to Box Hill Station while others opted for the more leisurely route on to Leatherhead.