Dorking to Box Hill via Norbury Park and Mickleham Walk

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13. Main Walk (14 • 16¾ km)

1. Short Circular Walk, from Box Hill (11¾ • 14½ km)
2. Longer Circular Walk, from Dorking (15¼ •18  km)

The longer of the two distances includes the Juniper Top extension.

Walk Directions

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

If you are doing the Short Circular Walk (from Box Hill & Westhumble), start at §B.

1. Dorking Stations to Westhumble Chapel (3 km)
• Follow the Mole Gap Trail (MGT) northwards along the A24 and bear left into Chichester Road. Turn left onto Calvert Street and continue on a footpath along the southern edge of Denbies Wine Estate. On meeting the other branch of the MGT (from Dorking's town centre) turn right to enter the vineyard. Fork left at the first footpath junction to leave the MGT. At the north-western corner of the vineyard go straight across two bridleways, then turn right onto a third to come to the ruined Westhumble Chapel on Chapel Lane.

Directions are given from the station on the North Downs line (Deepdene) as well as Dorking (Main).

1. Starting from Dorking (Main)

1. Leave the station along its access road, the start of one branch of the Mole Gap Trail? (MGT). Shortly before reaching the A24 go down steps on the right-hand side and through the pedestrian subway. On the other side of the main road go up the steps on the right and head N on the cycleway, with the road on your right.

2. Starting from Dorking Deepdene

1. Go down steps at the Guildford end of the platform to the A24. Cross the main road at the pedestrian lights and turn right to head N on the cycleway, passing under the railway bridge and joining the route from Dorking (Main) by the exit from a pedestrian subway.
3. Carry on along the cycleway, crossing a side road (Ashcombe Road) at the traffic lights. After crossing Chichester Close bear left into Chichester Road. This residential street ends at a T-junction with Calvert Road, with a view ahead across the extensive Denbies Wine Estate. Turn left onto this street, soon climbing gently.
4. In 150m, where the street bends left, bear right onto a narrow path to the left of a driveway. After going past a wooden barrier this continues as a fenced path overlooking the vineyard. In 150m veer right by a footpath signpost, ignoring an exit into another residential street (Keppel Road). Follow the path through a belt of trees for 400m, with an open space on the left.
5. On reaching a little triangle of paths fork right onto a broad path heading N, joining the other branch of the MGT. This goes gently downhill and passes a sign at the bottom indicating that you will be going through the vineyard. Follow the right of way up a grassy slope to a signposted path junction and take the left-hand of two footpaths ahead, leaving the MGT.
6. This broad grassy track soon turns slightly left to head NNW between vines, climbing gently with Ashcombe Wood off to the left. In 650m go straight ahead at a crossing with a bridleway, now with woodland behind a hedge on your left. After leaving the vineyard through a kissing gate keep ahead at another path junction, this time crossing over the North Downs Way? (NDW).
7. In 125m the woodland path joins the driveway to a couple of grand houses off to the left. The simplest continuation is to follow the driveway as it curves right and merges with a bridleway from the left, although a yellow waymarker might persuade you to take a short path ahead to a kissing gate and then turn right onto the bridleway. Either way, follow the drive downhill and keep left at a path junction after 300m, where the link route from Box Hill joins from the right.

Continue the directions at §C.

2. Box Hill & Westhumble Station to Westhumble Chapel (¾ km)
• Turn left out of the station and go along Chapel Lane for 500m. Bear left onto a footpath, then in 200m turn right at a T-junction with a bridleway to return to Chapel Lane, passing the ruined Westhumble Chapel.

This short section is the same as the start of Walk 2–14b.

1. Arriving from London, leave Platform 2 and immediately turn left to go up a flight of steps (ie. not the station footbridge leading to Platform 1). At the end of a short fenced path turn left onto the road to cross the railway bridge. Take the leftmost of the three lanes ahead (Chapel Lane), not the one under the prominent Leladene? archway (with blue plaque). There is a pavement on the left-hand side of Chapel Lane for a short distance, then a walkway set back from the lane.
2. In 125m you cross a gated private road (Pilgrims Way) and now have to endure an awkward 350m on Chapel Lane, with no pavement. At the end of the houses on your left bear left onto a fenced footpath climbing gently between fields. In 200m turn right at a T-junction with a bridleway, joining the route from Dorking (and leaving Walk 2–14b).
3. Westhumble Chapel to Norbury Park Viewpoint (2 km)
• Turn left onto Chapel Lane, then in 100m turn right onto a footpath up Chapel Hill. After going through a small wood turn right to go up a field to Crabtree Lane. Take the bridleway from the back of the nearby car park heading north-west and then north through Norbury Park Wood. In 1 km turn right onto a short path to reach a viewpoint overlooking the Mole valley.
1. Follow the bridleway down to the left, passing the ruins of Westhumble Chapel? on the right shortly before emerging onto Chapel Lane. Turn left and go along the lane for 100m. After passing a ‘Westhumble 2000AD’ village sign, turn right through a side gate onto a signposted footpath.
2. Go all the way up the right-hand edge of a field (Chapel Hill). At the top go through another gate and continue on a path through a copse. On the far side ignore a footpath waymarker pointing ahead and turn right onto a new footpath slanting up the field. At the top go through a metal kissing gate onto a narrow lane and zig-zag right and left into Crabtree Lane car park.
3. Take the bridleway from the back of the car park and simply follow it for 1 km, initially near the edge of the wood and merging with a surfaced track from the right halfway along. Shortly after a path branches off to the left, turn right off the track at a Viewpoint signpost to reach an area with a few picnic tables and a view eastwards across the Mole valley to Mickleham Downs and Box Hill.

   The prominent mansion away to the left is Cherkley Court, once the country estate of Lord Beaverbrook. The two open areas leading up Box Hill are Juniper Top and the Burford Spur.

4. The Viewpoint to the King William Ⅳ pub (2¼ • 2¾ km)
• Return to the main track through the wood and follow it around the perimeter fence of Norbury Park House. After passing Norbury Park Sawmill join a bridleway heading east, eventually leaving the estate. Turn right onto a lane which crosses the River Mole. Cross the A24 and take a bridleway just off to the left, which turns left to run parallel to the main road. Continue along School Lane and Byttom Hill to reach the King William Ⅳ pub.
  • After crossing the A24 you could detour along Old London Road to the Running Horses pub, then return through the churchyard to meet the bridleway where it turns towards School Lane.
1. With your back to the view, take the path to the right of the rearmost picnic table, going up to and then alongside the green chainlink fence of Norbury Park House. On returning to the broad track you were on earlier turn right to stay alongside the security fence. In 400m you pass the entrance to Norbury Park Sawmill on your left.
2. Where the track forks in front of a triangular area with an information panel about the history of Norbury Park (and sometimes a pop-up café, Wild!…About Coffee) keep right to continue on the sawmill's access road. After passing a security gate for Norbury Park House and descending for 175m, turn right onto a signposted public bridleway.
3. Follow the bridleway up a slope, staying alongside the security fence. In 200m you pass a gate into the grounds and bear right, ignoring the (seemingly unused) driveway down to the left. At the next path junction there is a sign pointing right to Centenary Copse & Viewpoint.
   • If you wish you could make a short out-and-back detour to this viewpoint, a small terrace with a wooden bench 100m away.
4. For the main route fork left at the signpost and follow the bridleway downhill through the trees to an open area by a communications mast, with views across the valley to Cherkley Court. Carry on downhill, later on a broad grassy strip alongside the driveway you crossed earlier and then the tarmac lane from the sawmill, which both merge from the left.
5. Where the lane swings off to the left keep right on a path between hedges. Follow the path down to a lane and turn right. After crossing the River Mole the lane comes to the A24 (Mickleham Bypass) opposite its junction with the B2209 (Old London Road). Cross this busy dual carriageway with great care, to the left of the junction.

If you are going to the alternative lunch pub (the Running Horses) or want to visit Mickleham church, follow the directions in [?].

6. Main route

1. Go up the driveway to the right of St Michael's Cottage, 50m to the left of the road junction (shown as a bridleway by a signpost on the other side of the carriageway). Where the drive swings round to the left at Old House Cottage, keep right. In a further 30m turn left at a signposted path junction.

7. Alternative route (+½ km)

1. Go along Old London Road for 250m to reach the Running Horses pub? on the right-hand side, opposite a gate into the churchyard of St Michael & All Angels? (which is worth a visit).
2. To resume the walk, make your way onto the path along the left-hand side of the churchyard. Ignore an old wooden gate on the left but turn left onto a grassy path 40m behind the church.
3. Follow this footpath out of the churchyard, between back gardens and paddocks. Cross a lane (Dell Close), then in 100m turn right at a signposted path T-junction.
8. Head E along the path, between hedges. Ignore footpaths into a recreation ground on the right and continue on a tarmac lane (School Lane). This curves round to the left, passes St Michael's School and comes to an unsurfaced lane (Byttom Hill).
9. Turn right to go up this lane for 40m to reach the King William Ⅳ pub, perched on the side of the hill. The walk continues up the flight of steps past its main entrance; there are also steps up to its beer garden from Byttom Hill.
5. The King William Ⅳ to Headley Lane (2½ km)
• Take the footpath up past the side of the pub and turn left onto a broad level path. At the end turn right onto a footpath climbing steadily up Mickleham Downs. At the top turn half-left onto a bridleway which leads to the middle of a long open area. Turn right to head south-west along The Gallops. Near the far end fork left onto a narrow path into the trees, which leads to a footpath going steeply down White Hill. At the bottom cross Headley Lane into Whitehill car park, entering Box Hill Country Park.
1. Go up the narrow footpath past the side of the pub to a crosspaths and turn sharp left onto a broad level path flanked by low brick and flint walls, heading N with views across the Mole valley. In 200m, just before the path meets a lane, turn right through a gap to the right of a metal fieldgate onto a signposted footpath.
2. Follow the path for 600m as it climbs steadily up the wooded Mickleham Downs, later with a wire fence on the left. At the top of the hill turn half-left to stay alongside the fence, now heading E on a bridleway. Continue in this direction for 450m, crossing a couple of chalky tracks along the way.
3. Eventually the bridleway swings right and emerges onto the middle of a 1 km long strip of open grassland. Turn right to head SW along The Gallops?, keeping to the left of a small clump of trees after 300m (where there is an “Archaeology on Mickleham Downs” information panel). Just before the end of this open area, veer left onto a grassy path into the trees.
4. Follow this winding path for 250m, still heading roughly SW. 25m after passing a prominent beech tree, keep left at a little triangle of paths to end up on a broad path heading SE. This soon turns right and comes out into the open, with a fine view across the valley to Juniper Top in the main part of Box Hill Country Park.

   You now follow the route of Walk 1–49 (in reverse) down to Box Hill Country Park.

5. Continue on the path, heading SW down White Hill. In 150m it bends left and goes steeply down a long flight of steps to Headley Lane. This lane is popular with speedy cyclists, so take care as you cross it into Whitehill car park, entering Box Hill Country Park.
6. Headley Lane to Broadwood's Tower (¾ • 3½ km)
• For the main route follow the main path along Juniper Bottom for 300m, then veer right to climb steps up the side of the valley. At the top turn right and follow the path round to the left to come to Broadwood's Tower.
  • For an optional extension ignore the side path up the valley and go all the way along Juniper Bottom, 1½ km from the car park. Turn left at a path crossing onto a path returning through woodland, eventually emerging onto the open plateau of Juniper Top. Follow the path down the grassy spur. Before reaching the bottom turn left onto a faint path by a low wooden bench to return to the path along Juniper Bottom, about 250m from the car park. Go straight across it onto a footpath climbing up the other side of the valley. In 250m fork left onto a link path, then in 100m turn right at a path junction to come to Broadwood's Tower in a further 100m.
    

If you want to take the optional extension (all the way up Juniper Bottom and back down Juniper Top), follow the directions in [?].

1. Main route (¾ km)

1. Go through the car park and follow the main path for 300m, to the start of a more open area. Veer right across the grass towards a flight of steps cut into the side of the valley and climb all the way up.
2. At the top go through a gate into woodland. After a short final climb turn right at a T-junction and follow the path round to the left.
3. In 75m keep ahead at a staggered path junction to stay on the main path. In a further 100m you come to a circular brick folly in a small clearing, Broadwood's Tower?.

2. Juniper Top Extension (3½ km)

1. Go through the car park and simply follow the main path for 1½ km through Juniper Bottom, ignoring side paths and going through gates as necessary.

   Juniper Bottom is the name shown on maps but the NT prefers to call it Happy Valley in its publications.

2. The path climbs steadily up the wooded valley. After it path curves round to the left on a slightly steeper stretch you reach a path crossing. Ignore a NT waymarker for the Juniper Top Walk pointing right and instead turn left.

   The waymarker is for walkers returning to the Visitor Centre at the end of this trail.

3. The path soon merges with another from the right and another NT waymarker confirms that you are on the outward leg of the Juniper Top Walk. Follow this woodland path for 800m, eventually going through a gate onto the open plateau of Juniper Top.
4. Carry on along a grassy path, curving round to the left and soon going steadily downhill with fine views ahead. In 500m the path goes through a gap where the downland narrows. At a Y-junction fork left to head towards a low wooden bench.
5. On reaching the bench turn left onto a faint path which soon drops steeply downhill. At the bottom of the slope go over a stile and straight across your outward route onto a public footpath, indicated by a yellow waymarker.
6. The woodland path climbs steeply up the other side of the valley. Shortly after going through a wooden gate keep left at a path junction. In a further 150m you reach another path junction and turn left, ignoring a yellow waymarker pointing ahead.
7. After a final climb of 100m turn right at a staggered path crossing. …
   
7. Broadwood's Tower to the Box Hill Visitor Centre (1½ km)
• Take the woodland path heading south-east and then south through the Country Park, eventually coming to an open space near Box Hill's main car park. Go straight across Donkey Green and cross Zig Zag Road to reach the Salomons Memorial. From this viewpoint double back on a path alongside the road to the NT Visitor Centre.
1. Turn left at the tower to go gently uphill on a track, soon with views on the right across a valley to the Burford Spur. Go through a gate and simply follow this track through woodland for 1 km, gradually curving to the right and passing several children's play areas.
2. As you approach an open space the track curves to the right, towards the large NT car park for Box Hill. Unless you want to go directly to the Visitor Centre (beyond the car park), bear left to go straight across Donkey Green. After crossing a lane (Zig Zag Road) you come to the famous viewpoint at the Salomons Memorial?.
3. With your back to the view, turn left onto the tarmac path behind the memorial. This curves round to the right and continues alongside Zig Zag Road. Ignore a path on the left leading to Swiss Cottage? to reach a large picnic area in front of a couple of buildings. The NT Café is at the back of the Gift Shop in the first building, with a Servery for light refreshments in the second.

If you are doing the Longer Circular Walk (returning to Dorking), go to §I.

8. The Visitor Centre to Box Hill & Westhumble Station (2 km)
• Go past the old fort behind the Servery and cut through a belt of trees to come to the clifftop path above The Whites. Turn right and go down the Burford Spur, at some point veering left to come out onto Old London Road. Turn left to go past the Burford Bridge Hotel and continue alongside the A24, crossing the River Mole on Burford Bridge. Take the subway beneath the main road and turn right into Westhumble Street, passing the Stepping Stones pub on the way to the station.
1. Go around the side of the Servery and cut through a small car park to the old Box Hill Fort?. Continue past its right-hand side and veer left through an opening in the stone wall. Go over the grass rampart onto a short path through the belt of trees ahead to a path T-junction at the top of the steeply wooded hillside of The Whites.
2. Turn right and follow the chalky path along the top of the hillside. After going through a wooden fieldgate the downland opens up and the descent becomes steeper. The suggested route down the Burford Spur is to fork left where the path splits, then stay on the main path to come out onto Old London Road opposite the entrance to a large public car park. Unless you want to visit Ryka's Café (in the car park) turn left onto the road.
   • For a slightly shorter (but more precipitous) descent you could take one of the side paths on the left which meet the road closer to the large roundabout.
3. On the road you pass the Burford Bridge Hotel and keep left at the roundabout. After crossing the River Mole on a footway alongside the A24 go down a subway ramp and under this busy main road. On the other side go up the ramp on the left to a road junction and turn right into Westhumble Street.
4. You soon reach the Stepping Stones pub on the left, a convenient refreshment stop. The station is a further 300m along this narrow street, but there is a pavement or a footway on one side or the other. Before the road rises to cross the railway bridge, bear left into the station car park. Cross the station footbridge to Platform 1 for trains to London.
9. The Visitor Centre to Dorking Stations (3¼ km)
• … Turn left onto the path and fork right at a path junction after 125m. In 200m briefly merge with the NDW at the top of its long ascent, then in 50m fork right at a footpath Y-junction to go down the hillside, eventually leaving the Country Park at Boxhurst. Go down Boxhill Road for 450m, then take a footpath on the right leading to the River Mole at Castle Mill. Cross it on the footbridge and follow the footpath round to the right. Bear right onto Leslie Road, turn right onto Pixham Lane and turn left into Pixholme Grove. In front of a railway bridge zig-zag right and left to go under a second bridge onto Lincoln Road. Dorking (Main) station is off to the right; for Dorking Deepdene take a footpath on the left.
1. …
2. Turn left and follow the chalky path along the top of the hillside. Shortly after passing a headstone for Major Peter Labellière? fork right at a path junction. In 200m the path merges with the North Downs Way? (NDW) coming up a long flight of steps, familiar from other SWC walks.
3. Go through a gate onto the path along the escarpment, with views of Dorking to the south-west. In 50m you come to another gate, with two footpath waymarkers. Unless you want to revisit the Salomons Memorial take the right-hand path (leaving the NDW), which slants down the hillside and passes well below the viewpoint.
   • If you do take the left-hand path up to the memorial (125m away) you can rejoin the route by going steeply down the escarpment from the viewpoint, with the left-most of several broad grassy paths being the most direct way.
4. After going through a wooden gate carry on down the path to another gate, where you leave Box Hill. Keep ahead on a track, which in 100m comes to a lane (Boxhill Road). Bear right to go down this lane, which in 350m goes under the North Downs railway line. In a further 100m, opposite Old Reigate Road on the left, turn right up steps onto a footpath.
5. Go through a gate and follow the path along the right-hand side of a field. Go through another gate and keep ahead across a meadow. On the far side cross the River Mole on a footbridge, then a mill-stream. After passing Castle Mill turn right and follow the footpath for 200m to Leslie Road, ignoring another footpath off to the left along the way.
6. Bear right onto the road and go up to its T-junction with Pixham Lane. Turn right onto the road, going back under the railway line. Ignore the first residential street on the left (Swan Mill Gardens) but turn left into the second (Pixholme Grove), signposted to the town centre and railway stations.
7. Follow this cul-de-sac past a string of pastel-coloured cottages, with a sports ground on the right. Continue on a fenced path past allotments and then some scrubland, where you can see Dorking (Main) station off to the right. Turn right at a path junction in front of a railway bridge, then in 60m turn left to go under another bridge onto the end of Lincoln Road.
   • If you want to visit the Lincoln Arms Hotel (which is between Dorking's two stations) keep ahead on the road and turn sharp right at the top for the pub. Afterwards, either go along Station Approach or head south on the A24 for Dorking Deepdene.

8. Finishing at Dorking (Main)

1. For direct trains to London turn right and go through a small car park to reach the entrance to Dorking station. Trains to London can depart from any of the three platforms, so you might have to cross the station footbridge to Platforms 2 or 3.

9. Finishing at Dorking Deepdene

1. For trains to Redhill or Guildford go past the entrance to a vehicle workshop and immediately turn left through an iron gate onto a narrow fenced path. This curves round to the right and comes out by one of the entrances to Dorking Deepdene station.
2. For trains to Redhill (where you could change for London) go up the steps here to Platform 1. For trains towards Guildford go under the railway bridge and up another flight of steps to Platform 2. There is no footbridge between the two platforms.

Walk Notes

1. The Mole Gap Trail is a short ‘Rail to Ramble’ route of about 10 km between Dorking and Leatherhead stations, with a longer branch at its southern end going through Dorking town centre. It is waymarked with metal direction signs designed to look handwritten.
2. The North Downs Way runs for 246 km along the length of the North Downs (with two sections at its eastern end), from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent.
3. The Leladene archway was built by the owner of a house on Camilla Drive after his wife Lela died in 1922, but the blue plaque commemorates the English novelist Fanny Burney (1752-1840). After the success of her romantic novel Camilla in 1796 she was able to move into a new house designed by her émigré French husband, General Alexandre d'Arblay, and lived in the village for five years.
4. Westhumble Chapel is thought to have been built at the end of the 12^thC and used as a place of worship until the 16^thC. Only the west gable and parts of the east end remain.
5. As the name implies, The Gallops was used for leisure riding and for exercising horses racing at Epsom (which were stabled at the Running Horses pub in Mickleham).
6. Stane Street is the modern name given to the 1^stC Roman Road between London and Chichester, a distance of around 90 km (its original Roman name is unknown). ‘Stane’ is an old English spelling of ‘stone’ and was often used to signify a paved trackway.
7. The Running Horses pub was renamed after the two horses which tied in the “Dead Heat Derby” of 1828, Colonel and Cadland. They are pictured on opposite sides of the inn sign.
8. St Michael & All Angels, Mickleham dates from Saxon and Norman times but most of the original features were lost in an 1842 renovation. It has a ‘weeping chancel’, one which is out of alignment with the nave.
9. Broadwood's Tower was built in the 19^thC by the piano manufacturer Thomas Broadwood, who owned the prominent house in the valley below, Juniper Hall. An ailing holm oak growing inside it had to be removed because it was damaging the structure.
10. The Salomons Memorial commemorates Leopold Salomons of Norbury Park, who bought Box Hill when it was offered for sale in 1912 and donated it to the National Trust two years later.
11. The television pioneer John Logie Baird lived in Swiss Cottage from 1929–32 and conducted some of his early experiments there.
12. Box Hill Fort was one of a chain of mobilisation centres built to defend London at the end of the 19^thC, but the idea was soon abandoned. It has now been colonized by several species of bats.
13. Major Peter Labellière was an eccentric local resident who insisted on being buried upside down, reasoning that “as the world is turned topsy-turvy” he would be the right way up in the end.

» Last updated: December 30, 2025

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