Oxshott to Cobham via Painshill Walk

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Walk Map

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Walk Options

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13. Main Walk (15¼ • 13½ km)

1. Circular Walk, starting from Cobham (18½ • 16¾ km)
2. Circular Walk, omitting Black Pond (16 • 14¼ km)
3. Short Walk, directly to Painshill (9½ • 7¾ km)

The two distances are for the afternoon routes via Downside Common and Cobham Park respectively.

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 Circular Walk (from Cobham), start at §B.

If you are doing the Short Walk (also from Cobham), start at §G.

1. Oxshott Station to West Bridge (1¾ km)
• From the station forecourt take a short path through the trees onto Oxshott Heath. Take any route up to the War Memorial on the escarpment ahead and then a path heading north-west through woodland to Sandy Lane. Cross the road and take the bridleway heading due north. In 250m fork left onto the horse ride signposted to West Bridge.
1. Arriving from London, cross the footbridge and leave from the other platform. Bear right across the station forecourt and take the path to the right of some small buildings, going up through a belt of trees to an information panel about Oxshott Heath? at a crosspaths.
2. For a fairly gentle route up the escarpment ahead turn right at the crosspaths, then in 25m fork left onto a sandy path heading N. This soon starts to climb gently and in 150m goes up a few steps to a T-junction with a broad path. Turn left and follow this uphill past wooden barriers to come to a prominent War Memorial? in 100m.
3. Shortly after passing the memorial fork right in front of a gnarled oak tree onto a clear woodland path leading away from the escarpment. In 75m turn half-right at a five-way path junction to head NW and carry on in this direction for 400m, following occasional “Trail 2000” waymarker posts with white arrows pointing ahead at path crossings.
4. The path eventually drops down towards a road (Sandy Lane). Just before reaching it turn right at a path crossing, gradually approaching the road and passing Roundhill Way opposite. In 25m cross Sandy Lane carefully (it has more traffic than you might expect) and take the signposted public bridleway opposite, heading N.
5. In 250m fork left at a major path junction onto a horse ride signposted to West Bridge, now heading NW through Esher Common. You pass a woodland pond on the left before the trees start to thin out and you emerge into open heathland.
6. Carry on along this broad ride for 500m, turning left halfway along where some paths join from the right. The ride eventually goes back into woodland and comes to a T-junction with another horse ride, with West Bridge (over the all-too-audible Cobham Bypass) up the slope to your right.

Continue the directions at §D.

2. Cobham Station to Littleheath Lane (2¼ km)
• Go out along Station Road and turn left onto the A245. Turn right onto the footpath opposite Tilt Road and follow it along the edge of Knowle Hill Park into Littleheath Common. Veer left off the footpath and turn left in front of Littleheath Common Pond. Go past the end of the houses on Heathfield, then veer right onto a woodland path leading to Somerville Road. Turn left to reach its T-junction with Littleheath Lane.
1. Arriving from London, cross the footbridge and go out onto the station forecourt from the other platform. Go past a small parade of shops and keep ahead on Station Road to reach its T-junction with the A245 (Stoke Road), with The Old Plough pub on the left. Turn left and go along the main road for 250m, crossing over at the pedestrian lights halfway along.
2. Immediately after crossing Aspen Close turn right onto a signposted footpath, going past wooden barriers. At the end of this long fenced path between gardens go through a wooden gate and continue for 400m alongside a chainlink fence protecting the private Knowle Hill Park.
3. After going through another wooden gate ignore a metal fieldgate on the left and follow the path for a further 250m, now with a Scout Camp in the wood on your right. At a “Danger · Deep water” sign veer left off the public footpath onto a side path dropping down a small slope into the wooded Littleheath Common?.
4. The path crosses a ditch on a plank bridge and comes to a little triangle of paths in front of Littleheath Common Pond. Keep left at these junctions to continue on the path around this picturesque pond. As you approach the first of the lakeside properties by the corner of the pond, the path forks.

The main route through the wood ahead can be muddy, so in wet weather it would be advisable to take the alternative route in [?].

5. Main route

1. Fork left onto the path through the wood, crossing a few ditches on plank bridges along the way and then passing a small pond on the right. You will eventually be leaving the wood away to the right, but stay on the main path as it curves round to the left.
2. About 125m after passing the pond fork right onto a short link path, which soon comes to a T-junction with the main path through the middle of the wood.
   • If you miss this useful link path turn sharp right (almost doubling back) where the two main paths merge 50m further on.
3. Turn right at the T-junction and follow the woodland path for 200m, heading ENE and crossing a ditch on a plank bridge along the way.

   This path runs parallel with Littleheath Lane off to the left and you might be able to glimpse (or hear) its traffic from time to time.

4. The path eventually bends left and comes out onto a side street (Somerville Road) near its junction with Littleheath Lane. Turn left and go out to this T-junction.

6. Alternative route

1. Fork right, passing a “Lake inhabitants” information panel and continuing alongside the property's garden fence. After passing the house turn right onto the end of a cul-de-sac (Heathfield).
2. Go all the way along Heathfield, passing the rest of the lakeside houses. At the end turn left onto Somerville Road and follow this out to its T-junction with Littleheath Lane.
3. Littleheath Lane to West Bridge (2¾ km)
• Turn right and go along Littleheath Lane to Brown's Corner. Turn left to go up the western edge of Oxshott Heath for 250m. Turn right to go along a wooded escarpment, eventually reaching the War Memorial. Go round to the left to join a horse ride heading west-northwest …
1. Turn right onto Littleheath Lane and follow this tree-lined street for 350m to a sharp right-hand bend at Brown's Corner. Leave the road and go through the small parking area ahead into the wooded Oxshott Heath?.
2. Turn left onto the bridleway signposted to Sandy Lane (or the path alongside it; the two merge in several places). After climbing gently along the western edge of the woodland for 250m turn right at a clearing with a large tree trunk on the left.
3. Pass to the left of a “No Riding” notice on a tree and go up a slope, scrambling over some tree roots and with a large pit down to your left. At the top you pass a “Trail 2000” waymarker post with a white arrow. Go through a semi-open area with a cluster of benches and continue along a wooded escarpment, with glimpses of the heathland down to your right.
4. In 200m keep ahead at a crosspaths. In a further 125m veer right in a small clearing to emerge into a more open area. Follow the path round to the left to stay on the edge of the escarpment, with several benches where you could pause to admire the view. In 150m you come to a prominent War Memorial?.
5. Take the path to the right of the memorial, heading directly away from the escarpment. Almost immediately fork left at an oblique path crossing. Follow the path round to the right to go along a broad open strip of grassland, with woodland on both sides.
6. In 100m fork left at a Y-junction, then shortly afterwards turn half-left at a path crossing onto a signposted Horse Ride into the trees, heading WNW. Follow this path gently downhill through the wooded Oxshott Heath for 350m, halfway along bearing slightly left at a major path junction.
7. The ride eventually drops down towards a road (Sandy Lane). Go past horse barriers, …
8. …
9. …

If you are not doing the loop around Black Pond on the other side of the main road, go to §E.

4. An Esher Common loop around Black Pond (2½ km)
• For the full route, cross over the A3 on West Bridge and turn left. Loop around Black Pond and take any convenient route heading east across Esher Common. Turn right onto a horse ride and follow it back across the A3 on East Bridge. In 150m turn right onto an all-weather path heading west, rejoining the horse ride leading to West Bridge.
  
1. Turn right at the T-junction and go up the slope, finally getting a clear view of the traffic as you cross the busy A3 dual carriageway on West Bridge.

   After the loop around Esher Common you will be recrossing the A3 on East Bridge, about 500m away to the right.

2. On the other side of the bridge turn left, downhill. The suggested route is to fork right onto a clear path through the trees at the bottom of the slope. This path stays fairly close to the main track for about 200m before curving away to the right.
   • If you choose to stay on the main track, turn right after 175m onto a signposted footpath to Black Pond.
3. Both paths lead you through wooden horse barriers onto a causeway along the western edge of Black Pond?, a picturesque spot. After skirting another set of barriers beyond the far end of the causeway turn right onto a side path through heathland.
   • If you miss this useful short cut you can simply turn right at a major path junction a little further on; the two paths merge at the top of a small slope.
4. Continue in the same direction on a long straight path through a pine wood. After passing another barrier bear right onto a signposted horse ride to reach an information panel “Exploring Esher Commons” by a four-way signpost (but named “Five Ways”). The suggested route is not to take any of the signposted rides but to bear left in a direction midway between the horse rides to Longy Down and Esher Common.
5. You soon pick up a clear sandy path heading E through the heathland – the Fifth Way? – with woodland sloping up to your left. The simplest route is to follow this path for about 400m to a major junction with a broad sandy horse ride.
   • About halfway along you could veer left onto a narrow path leading up to the trees and take in the view from one of the wooden benches there, then continue on a path along the woodland edge.
6. Either way, turn right when you reach the broad horse ride to head S, which leads directly to East Bridge. Cross back over the A3 and follow the ride down past a small fenced-off pond on the left. In a further 75m turn right off the horse ride at a little triangle of paths behind a wooden barrier, leading to an all-weather path at a sharp bend.
7. Bear right onto this path, heading W through a wooded area. In 250m the path crosses a stream on a plank bridge, bends left and meets the horse ride from Sandy Lane at a bend. Turn right onto the ride and repeat your earlier route up to the T-junction near West Bridge.
   
5. West Bridge to Fairmile Lane (1½ km)
• Take a short path ahead through the trees and turn left onto the other bridleway coming down from West Bridge. In 100m take either of two paths on the right, which rejoin in 250m. Continue past Middle Pond and follow a woodland path heading south-west through Fairmile Common to a parking area at the top of Green Lane. Go down this street and cross Fairmile Lane onto the bridleway opposite, Hogshill Lane.
1. Go straight across the broad ride onto a short link path through the trees, which leads to another bridleway coming down from West Bridge. Turn left and go along it for 100m, where there is a gate into a private garden ahead on your left and two paths off to the right.Turn right onto the left-hand of these paths, a permissive bridleway.
   • You could in fact take either path as they rejoin in 250m, but the right-hand path is rather uneven where it goes over tree roots along an ancient boundary (and is also closer to the traffic noise).
2. The bridleway curves gently round to the right and eventually rejoins the other path near the main road. Follow the path down a small dip, where it swings left and right and continues along the short northern side of Middle Pond?.
3. In the corner of the pond follow the path round to the left, climbing through the trees alongside a black metal fence protecting the grounds of Lakewood House. At the corner of the property turn right, now alongside a chainlink fence and entering the wooded Fairmile Common.
4. At the end of the boundary fence keep ahead through a major path junction in a small clearing, dotted with pine trees. On the other side of the clearing there are two paths more or less straight ahead and you need to take the left-hand path, initially heading SW.
5. You will be following this woodland path for the next 400m, gradually curving round to the left and crossing a few horse rides along the way. On the far side of the wood the path goes up a short slope and comes to a small parking area, with an information panel about the group of Esher Commons?.
6. Veer right through the car park and go all the way down a broad residential street (Green Lane). At the bottom cross Fairmile Lane onto the signposted bridleway opposite.
6. Fairmile Lane to Cobham (River Hill) (2 km)
• Head west along a mix of enclosed paths and residential streets into Cobham. 300m before the end of Hogshill Lane, turn left into French Gardens and cut through alleyways to come out onto the A245 opposite Cobham Mill. Turn right to reach The Bear on River Hill.

You will be following a mix of residential streets and bridleways (shown on street maps as extensions of Hogshill Lane) into the centre of Cobham.

1. In 150m the bridleway leads into a residential street (Burstead Close). In a further 250m, shortly before its T-junction with Icklingham Road, bear left as indicated onto a path along the edge of a small triangular area. Go straight across the wide street lined with grand houses onto another enclosed path.
2. The path goes between houses and then alongside the grounds of a primary school. At the far end keep ahead on another residential street (Hogshill Lane). After passing Tartar Road the road narrows and goes downhill but you can use a raised walkway on its right-hand side, rejoining the road at the bottom of the slope.
3. Shortly after rejoining Hogshill Lane turn left into French Gardens. In 100m turn left off this cul-de-sac onto the signposted footpath between houses #5 & #6. Go along this tarmac path to a T-junction and turn right into another alleyway.
4. At the end turn left onto Cedar Road. Do not follow it round to the left into Cedar Avenue but keep ahead past vehicle barriers onto a short tarmac footpath. This drops down and comes out onto the A245 (Mill Road) directly opposite Cobham Mill? on the River Mole. Cross the main road carefully and turn right onto the roadside path.
5. In 150m the A245 curves up to the right by a wooden viewing platform overlooking the river and a small crescent-shaped patch of grass with a Riverhill Project? information panel (a good picnic spot). For the suggested lunch pub go back across the road to The Bear; this is the only pub in the vicinity but there are more eateries further along the A245, in the next section.

Continue the directions at §H.

7. Cobham Station to Cobham (River Hill) (2 km)
• For the main route, go out along Station Road and turn left into Bray Road. At a roundabout take a footpath to the left of Bray Road leading to Tilt Road. Head north-west along this road to Tilt Common and keep ahead on the A245. Follow this round to the left alongside the River Mole, passing Cobham Mill and coming to The Bear on River Hill.
  • If an unofficial exit from the station car park has not been closed off you could avoid some of this road walking by joining a new permissive path through a meadow alongside the River Mole, then turning right onto a bridleway at Ash Ford bridge to reach Tilt Road.
1. …

Much of this section is along roads but you might be able to avoid the first stretch by making use of a new permissive path around a meadow on the Cobham Park Estate. However, this alternative route in [?] uses an unofficial exit from the station car park which might be closed off in future.

2. Main route

1. Go past a small parade of shops and turn left into Bray Road, passing Cafè Barbera and Zara's Deli & Kitchen on the left. Stay on the left-hand side of this road, passing D'Abernon Drive on the left and then coming to a roundabout.
2. Take the tarmac path between the other arm of D'Abernon Drive and the continuation of Bray Road, a public footpath. At the end follow the path as it turns half-left, crosses Tilt Road and continues along the right-hand side of a broad grassy strip alongside the road.

3. Alternative route

1. Head away from the station along the edge of its car park, with the metal fence for a timber yard on your right. At the end of the fence hop over a metal rail and go down a short slope into the narrow part of a meadow. Go along its right-hand side for 75m, underneath power lines.
2. Where the meadow opens out turn right onto a grassy path around its edge. Follow this permissive path round to the left in front of a taped-off part of the meadow to reach the River Mole.
3. Turn right onto the potentially muddy path through the trees alongside the river, towards the Ash Ford pedestrian bridge 125m away. On reaching it go through a wooden gate and turn right onto a track, climbing gently away from the river.
4. Shortly after this bridleway joins the driveway from a cemetery veer left across a triangular patch of grass towards a footpath signpost. Cross Tilt Road and turn left on the far side of a broad grassy strip onto a tarmac walkway.
4. Follow this combination of walkway and pavement beside Tilt Road for 750m, heading roughly NW. Eventually there is a small common on your right and you pass the The Running Mare pub / restaurant on the left, a possible early refreshment stop.
5. Tilt Road leads into the A245 and you continue in the same direction on its pavement, soon alongside the River Mole. After the road curves round to the left you pass the historic Cobham Mill?.
6. … The Bear across the road is the suggested lunch pub on the longer walk options.
8. River Hill to St Andrew's Church via Painshill (2¼ km, excluding site visit)
• For the full route, go along the High Street for 250m and turn left into Hollyhedge Road. Cross Downside Bridge Road, keep ahead across a playing field and bear right onto Church Path. Shortly after it meets the A245 turn left onto a footpath alongside Painshill's access road (Anvil Lane).
  • If visiting the landscape garden, make your way through its car park and follow the access path across the River Mole. Pay the entrance fee at the ticket kiosk and use the site map to plan a route through it. To resume the walk, go back across the river and skirt around the car park to rejoin the footpath from the main road.
  Take the continuation of Anvil Lane, now a footpath heading south-southeast. Turn left at a path T-junction to come to Downside Bridge Road. Turn right and go along the road for 100m, then take a path through the churchyard to St Andrew's church. Return to the main road and follow it to Downside Bridge.
  • If not visiting Painshill you could cut out the loop to its entrance by heading back towards the church via a footpath from Hollyhedge Road, or simply reaching it directly via Church Street.
    
1. Follow the main road round to the right, away from the river and passing The Ivy on the corner. At the start of Cobham's High Street there is a side street on the left, Church Street.

The full route for this section is a loop out to Painshill, about 1km to the north-west of the town. It used to be possible to read a series of information panels about the site's history in its Kitchen Garden (outside the ticketed area), but these had been taken down when last checked. Consequently you might prefer to take one of the suggested short cuts if not visiting the landscape garden.


2. Short Cut 1 (¼ km)

1. If you want to skip the loop out to Painshill and do not want to investigate any more refreshment places, turn left into Church Street.
2. After passing the attractive Church Stile House? … …
3. For the full route carry on along the High Street, passing several eateries including Caffè Nero on the right-hand side. Unless you want to investigate more places beyond the prominent Clock Tower, turn left by GAIL's into Hollyhedge Road.
4. You pass a mosaic and information panel on the left about the Diggers?, then Hapi coffee shop in the parade of shops on the right. After 100m there is a tarmac lane on the left signposted as a footpath, with a large car park beyond it.

5. Short Cut 2 (¾ km)

1. If you want to skip the rest of the loop out to Painshill, turn left and follow this footpath past the side of the car park to Downside Bridge Road.
2. Turn left and go along its pavement for 100m. After crossing Church Street go through a gap in the wall and cut through the churchyard to St Andrew's church?, which is worth a visit (the entrance is on its south side). If you take this shortcut, resume the directions at the start of §I.
6. For the full route continue along Hollyhedge Road to its T-junction with Downside Bridge Road. Cross the main road carefully onto a large playing field and head for its far right-hand corner, 200m away. On the far side bear right onto a tarmac path (Church Path), passing a football ground and gradually approaching a main road (Between Streets).
7. Just before Painshill's access road (Anvil Lane) turn left onto a parallel tree-lined walkway, signposted as a footpath. At the far end the footpath turns left in front of the entrance to the site's car park.

8. Short Cut 3 (1½ km)

1. After visiting Painshill the walk continues along this footpath, so if you have changed your mind you can skip the out-and-back stretch to the entrance and resume the directions at [?].
9. To reach the entrance make your way through the car park and take the path at the back down to the right. After crossing the River Mole on an elegant new footbridge you can detour into the walled Kitchen Garden on the left before going up to the ticket kiosk.

10. Notes on visiting Painshill (up to 5 km)

• Visitors are offered a Map of Painshill describing its main features and showing several suggested circular routes.
• The waymarked Historic Route (about 4½ km) takes you through the whole garden and passes all its main features. Two shorter and less hilly routes (each about 2½ km) cover just the eastern half of the garden.
• The Suggested Route (about 5 km) is to follow most of the Historic Route, but on the way back cross Five Arch Bridge and return along the south side of the lake for fine views of the Ruined Abbey across the water.
  
11. After leaving the site retrace your steps across the river bridge and follow the pedestrian path around the right-hand side of the car park. Go past a wooden barrier and across a track, then turn right at a footpath signpost onto the continuation of the path from the main road.
12. Follow this long straight tree-lined footpath heading SSE for 450m, at first with allotments and a football ground on your left, then a large playing field. At the end turn left at a footpath T-junction to go past Cobham Community Garden? and more allotments to Downside Bridge Road.
13. Cross the road carefully, turn right … …
9. St Andrew's Church to Downside Common (2¾ km)
• For the full route, turn right off Downside Road onto a footpath heading south-west across water meadows for 1¼ km. Turn left onto Pointers Road and continue along Ockham Lane and Chilbrook Road to Downside Common.
  • For a short cut avoiding the potentially boggy water meadows carry on along Downside Road for a further 300m, then take a permissive path along the western boundary of the Cobham Park Estate and pick up the directions in the next section.
1. Leave the churchyard by its main gate, opposite the church door. Turn right onto a lane and continue on the walkway on the left-hand side of Downside Bridge Road, which becomes Downside Road after it has curved left and crossed the River Mole on Downside Bridge. Ahead on the right there is a signposted footpath into a water meadow.

The main route goes through a series of potentially boggy meadows bordering the River Mole, then loops back along quiet country lanes and bridleways via Downside Common. If this looks problematic the following alternative route starts with an extra 300m along Downside Road but then takes advantage of a new permissive path along the edge of the Cobham Park Estate.

2. Alternative route (−1¾ km)

1. Ignore the footpath into the meadow, soon passing Plough Lane on the right (with the Plough Inn visible 75m away). Carry on along Downside Road for a further 200m, passing the gated entrance to Cobham Park on the left.
2. Just past a residential cul-de-sac (Woodyard Mead) turn left through a small wooden gate in the hedge into the landscaped grounds of the Cobham Park Estate?.
   • If this permissive path is unexpectedly closed (and you choose not to retrace your steps to the water meadow) there is a further 1¼ km of road walking along Downside Road, Cobham Park Road and Downside Common Road. If you have to do this unappealing option, resume the directions at [?] in §J.
3. The path turns right to go along the estate's western boundary, with old iron railings on the left and the mansion coming into view behind you. At first Downside Road is behind the trees on the right, but in 250m the path swings left and continues alongside the quieter Cobham Park Road.
4. In a further 750m the estate path turns left again in its south-western corner, where the main route joins through a gap in the tree boundary. If you take this alternative route (saving 1¾ km), resume the directions at [?] in §J.
3. For the main route, cross the road carefully opposite the footpath signpost and go through a metal kissing gate onto a grassy path, directly away from the road.

   You will be following a waymarked footpath through meadows bordering the River Mole for the next 1¼ km. In the past there have been official notices stating that the landowner has had problems with people “treating the land as a public park”, so take care to stay on the right of way.

4. In 250m go through a gap and continue alongside a line of trees in a second meadow. In 200m you cross a ditch on a plank bridge and the path bears left to cross a third meadow. In 250m go through a metal gate, now close to the river on your right.
5. Follow the grassy path as it curves round to the right, with occasional glimpses of the river through gaps in the trees and shrubs. In 200m you cross a stream on a wooden footbridge and emerge into another large water meadow. Turn half-left as indicated to go diagonally across it, aiming for a kissing gate in the centre of a low fence across the meadow.

   After passing under power lines you might be able to glimpse the top of Painshill's Gothic Tower along the line of the pylons, poking out above the trees nearly 2 km away.

6. Go through the gate and continue in much the same direction towards a metal fieldgate on the far side of this meadow, skirting any waterlogged areas as best you can. Go over an awkward stile beside the fieldgate and turn left onto a lane (Pointers Road). In 200m turn right at a T-junction onto Ockham Lane.
7. In 125m turn left into Chilbrook Road and go all the way along this lane, which bends right at Chilbrook Farm halfway along. The lane eventually comes to a junction where Downside Road (on the left) meets Horsley Road. Cross this busy road carefully onto a corner of Downside Common.
10. Downside Common to Cobham Station (2½ km)
• After passing The Cricketers bear right across the common and take the bridleway to the left of St Michael's Chapel, heading north-east. Cross a driveway and turn right onto a permissive path just inside the Cobham Park Estate. At the end of the estate path turn left to rejoin the bridleway. Follow it back across the River Mole and keep ahead briefly on Tilt Road, then turn right onto a footpath. At a roundabout keep ahead on Bray Road and turn right at the end to reach Cobham station.
1. Go along the left-hand edge of the common for 125m to reach a possible refreshment stop, The Cricketers. After passing the pub bear right across the grass, aiming for a copse 100m away. Follow a path through these trees (or skirt around them) and continue in much the same direction, aiming to meet the road ahead (Downside Common Road) at its junction with a short link road across the common.
2. Across the road from this junction take the signposted bridleway to the left of St Michael's Chapel?, passing a Victorian water pump?. The bridleway continues as a broad tree-lined path between farm fields for 250m.
3. At the end go through a wooden gate and turn right briefly onto a driveway, which is the continuation of the right of way. Almost immediately turn left through a gap in the trees and turn right onto a parallel path inside the Cobham Park Estate?, with old iron railings on the left.
   • If this permissive path is unexpectedly closed simply go along the driveway instead for 350m. Where it swings round to the right bear left through a wooden side gate onto a broad track, staying on the bridleway and passing the end of the permissive path.
4. Inside the estate follow the tree-lined permissive path along its short southern boundary for 250m, through a metal gate and along the edge of a field. At the end of this short final stretch go through another gate and turn left onto a broad track.
5. In 250m this public bridleway crosses a stream and continues between hedges for a further 500m. You then cross the River Mole on the Ash Ford pedestrian bridge and go up a short slope, joining the driveway from a cemetery. Keep ahead on a grassy strip to the right of Tilt Road.
6. After passing Stile Cottage bear right onto a tarmac path which leads into an alleyway, signposted as a footpath. At the far end keep ahead past a roundabout onto Bray Road. Where this meets Station Road there is a parade of shops on the right containing Zara's Deli & Kitchen and the suggested tea place, Cafè Barbera.
   • If you want stronger fare The Old Plough is 300m away to the left, at the other end of Station Road.
7. The station is just off to the right, with a couple of takeaway places on its forecourt. Trains to London leave from Platform 1, on the near side.

Walk Notes

1. Oxshott Heath is managed by a group of honorary Conservators, an arrangement established by an Act of Parliament in 1904.
2. The prominent War Memorial on Oxshott Heath was erected after World War Ⅰ by Sir Robert MacAlpine (‘concrete Bob’), founder of the MacAlpine construction company.
3. Littleheath Common (or Little Heath) is managed for nature conservation, amenity and access. The pond – large enough to be called a lake – was originally a gravel pit.
4. Black Pond is the largest of the ponds on Esher Commons. It was created to supply water to Claremont Landscape Garden (NT), 1 km to the north.
5. The woodland around Middle Pond was added to Esher Commons in 1974, as compensation when this Site of Special Scientific Interest was cut in two by the A3.
6. Esher Commons is the collective name given to a group of predominantly wooded commons south-west of the town: Arbrook, Esher, Fairmile and West End. They are managed by Elmbridge Borough Council and sometimes also known as Elmbridge Commons.
7. Cobham Mill was built in the late 18^thC and was in use until 1928. Other buildings on the site were demolished in 1953 to relieve traffic congestion on Mill Road but this small mill survived and has been restored to full working order.
8. The Riverhill Regeneration Project was a community initiative undertaken in 2012-14 to restore the riverbank area alongside Mill Road.
9. Church Stile House is a rare example in Surrey of ‘double jettying’, with each floor overhanging the one below. It was substantially rebuilt in 1624 around an earlier 15^thC house and is listed Grade Ⅱ*.
10. St Andrew, Cobham dates from the 12^thC but was much altered and extended in the 19^thC. It contains a unique brass depicting the nativity.
11. The Diggers were a group of Protestant radicals who attempted to farm on common land in the disorderly period following the execution of Charles Ⅰ in 1649. They issued pamphlets and established communal settlements on St George's Hill and then Little Heath, but in each case were driven off by local landowners.
12. The Cobham Community Garden is part of a local initiative “to create a greener and more sustainable Cobham”.
13. The Cobham Park Estate has been owned by the Combe family since 1806, with the present mansion being completed in 1873. The family sold the house in the late 20^thC and it has been converted into luxury retirement apartments.
14. St Michael's Chapel (in the parish of Ockham) still has regular Church of England services, even though it is not much bigger than a garden shed.
15. The water pump was erected in 1858 by Harvey Combe, owner of Cobham Park, for the benefit of the cottagers on Downside Common.

» Last updated: March 21, 2026

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