Tadworth via Headley Heath and Box Hill Circular walk

Mixed open and wooded chalk downland with several viewpoints close to London

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 Option Post # Weather
Sat, 23-Mar-24 Saturday Walk - Tadworth Circular 15 plenty of sun and one big hailstorm
Sun, 09-Jul-23 Tadworth Circular 5 Initially humid and cloudy clearing later
Sat, 07-Jan-23 a Saturday Walk: Tadworth Short Circular 5 mostly dry with the occasional drizzle and only one sharp shower
Sat, 19-Mar-22 Tadworth Circular 14 clear blue sky
Sat, 11-Sep-21 Tempting Tadworth 17 warm initially cloudy changing to sunny conditions
Sat, 25-Jul-20 Saturday Walk: Tadworth Circular via Box Hill and Headley Heath 14
Sun, 15-Dec-19 a Sunday Walk: Tadworth Short Circular 6 cloudy but no rain
Wed, 12-Jun-19 Wednesday Walk Tadworth Circular, via Box Hill & Headley Heath 10 rainy
Sat, 18-Aug-18 Saturday Walk - Tadworth via Headley Heath Circular - Hopefullly [heather] (part two) 27 mostly grey
Sat, 20-Jan-18 a Saturday Walk – Headley Heath & the North Downs (Tadworth Circular) 17 drizzly
Sat, 04-Feb-17 Saturday walk - Box Hill from the back 30 mainly sunny
Sun, 04-Oct-15 Sunday Second Walk - Surrey heathlands 4 warm and sunny
Sun, 16-Jun-13 Tadworth Circular, via Box Hill & Headley Heath 8
Wed, 30-May-12 Tadworth Circular, via Box Hill & Headley Heath
Sat, 23-Mar-24 : Saturday Walk - Tadworth Circular 15
PeteG
PeteG
Length: 19.5 km / 12.1 mi, 6 out of 10 t=swc.139
"This walk over the National Trust's picturesque Headley Heath ("open heathland, woodland, and chalk downland") to Box Hill (also NT, noted viewpoint) feels very remote even though it starts within London Zone 6. The main walk returns via Headley Heath, the more strenuous longer option follows the North Downs Way, with views to the south. Shorter and longer options are available"
Trains: Get the 0940 Southern train (platform 11?) from London Bridge (East Croydon 0959) arriving 1034. Return trains at xx19 and xx49. Tadworth is in zone 6.
Lunch:
The Tree seems to be closed and up for sale.
Tea:
  • The Blue Ball. Large food pub on a village green, about 1.3 km before the station.
  • The Bell. Old fashioned small pub 800m before the station.
  • Right by Tadworth Station: A Fish & Chips, a Grill & Meze Bar and a Coffee House.
  • 22-Mar-24

    An alternative lunch option on this walk, about 1km beyond the top of Box Hill, is the Smith & Western restaurant. We have eaten there on walks before. American food.

    https://www.smith-western.co.uk/boxhill

  • 22-Mar-24

    Another tea option might be The Village Cafe at 15b Walton St, Walton-on-the-Hill (not far from The Blue Ball. I think it is still open.

  • 23-Mar-24

    The Tree pub has unfortunately closed down for any walkers thinking of a late afternoon stop

  • 24-Mar-24

    15 ,I think on this enjoyable walk, without any gloopy mud. I think 3 were in a slower group and weren't seen again. A few did the additional morning loop, with everyone regrouping in the Smith and Western, where 8 had a table booked. Most of us manged to be indoors for the short but dramatic hail storm.

    Some afternoon fragmentation, thankfully dry and sunny, with a regroup stop at the Blue Boar for 9 of us,2 having done the long afternoon route. 4 of us staying for a later train with welcome 'supplies'.

  • 25-Mar-24

    plenty of sun and one big hailstorm

Sun, 09-Jul-23 : Tadworth Circular 5
Stargazer
Stargazer

SWC 139: Tadworth Circular t=swc.139

Distance: Short, Medium and Long on offer:

Short: 8.8 miles/14 km

Medium (Main Walk): 12.1 miles/ 19.5 km

Long: 14.5 miles/ 23.1 km

Difficulty: 6 out of 10 – depending on distance

Train: Take the 9:12 AM Caterham/Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge (changing at Purley arr. 39/depart 44), arriving at Tadworth at 10:04. Return trains from Tadworth are at 16 minutes past the hour. Tadworth is in London zone 6.

Given its close proximity to London, this walk has a very rural feel. It first crosses picturesque Headley Heath before approaching Box Hill from the “back-side”. There is a recommended option to climb White Hill for some fine views. The shorter option omits the Box Hill view point, but explores more of Headley Heath. For those on the main walk, after enjoying the classic Box Hill view point, you have a choice of route back to Tadworth, one more direct across the heathland and one taking in a longer section of the North Downs Way before circling back. You can find more information about the walk and the instructions here.

There are a couple of pubs doted around the route, one coming quite early (the Cock Inn) and one quite late on the main walk (The Tree). There are also some National Trust cafes on Box Hill providing light bites and of course Box Hill itself provides a lovely spot for a picnic.

Enjoy the walk!

  • 06-Jul-23

    The Tree did not serve food when we did this walk in January this year. It now seems to cater almost exclusively for events. I suggest to call before deciding to have lunch there.

  • 10-Jul-23

    Just 3 on this pleasant little walk on the doorstep of London, including one first timer and one local who had not been on a walk for some number of years. The local brought us on a short tour of the village of Tadworth before we set off on the official route. On reaching the Cock Inn the local decided to circle back to Tadworth. The remaining 2 carried on and opted for the sharp up and down of the White Hill extension and then enjoyed the view from Box Hill. At this point, we parted company with our newcomer continuing on the main route and yours truly dropping down to Westhumble to catch a train back to London for an evening commitment. I hope our newcomer enjoyed the rest of the walk. As a note for future posts -- dropping down at Boxhill makes for a nice short option which does not exclude the highlights of the walk (though need to get a train ticket supplement). Also, the Smith & Weston pub on the Box Hill escarpment makes for a good lunch option -- located more centrally in the walk. Initially humid and cloudy clearing later .

  • 10-Jul-23

    Make that 4 . I took the 10.12 train. Not knowing which route option(s) others would be taking, I decided not to try and intercept the group and did the 14km version. The sections over Headley Heath were especially nice.

    I popped into The Tree in Boxhill Village, which is open for drinks until Friday 14th July. After then, it's sadly closing it's doors and it's future is unknown.

  • 10-Jul-23

    Make that 5 : as it wasn’t raining I made a last-minute decision to get the bus to Box Hill, walking the route in reverse from the visitor centre starting about 11. By the time I got to High Ashurst I realised any SWC walkers would have long since passed that point. I wandered around Headley Heath, not necessarily following the correct route, then decided to follow the reverse route back to Box Hill. My phone wrongly told me there were no trains from Westhumble so I cut downhill and walked into Dorking - a nice route except for the last km on the main road. Fantastic wild flowers and a few butterflies. Sorry not to have bumped into any of you

  • 10-Jul-23

    I did enjoy the rest of the walk thanks. Lunch at the Smith & Weston was welcome - I wouldn't have wanted to wait any longer. A picnic near the viewpoint would have been ideal in hindsight.

HollieB
HollieB
8.8 miles / 14 km
This shorter version of the walk seems best suited to short days and trains. It heads out to explore Headley Heath, before heading straight to lunch at The Tree (cutting out the Box Hill Country Park sections).

Trains: 10:12 London Bridge, (10:28 East Croydon), 11:01 Tadworth. Tadworth is in London Travelcard Zone 6. Return trains at xx:05/xx:35 - but beware that the last service today is at 17:35.

Lunch: The Tree on Box Hill, 01737 845996
T=swc.139.a

  • 08-Jan-23

    5 met at the station, 3 off the train, 2 by car. Half way to the lunch pub a call ahead informed us that the kitchen is closed until further notice. The two without a picnic picked up some sandwiches from the nearby convenience store. Half the pub has been converted into a function room making the pub much smaller and giving it a rather forlorn atmosphere, a place in search of a future. We were the only guests. However, we sat on sofas by the roaring fire consuming our provisions with some suitable liquid from the bar. On the way back 4 of us stopped at the village cafe in Walton on the Hill for tea and delectable cakes only marred for yours truly by an unfortunate mix-up between English breakfast and Earl Grey ..... Back in Tadworth we split into car drivers and train passengers after admiring one the the car driver's "beautiful" car.

    This is a pleasant walk in any season and one of the great ones in the summer leading from suburban London into the dramatic North Downs following country lanes, bridal and woodland paths, coloured briefly by the modern music of the M25. It was mostly dry with the occasional drizzle and only one sharp shower just before lunch.

Sat, 19-Mar-22 : Tadworth Circular 14
Dirk
Dirk
t=SWC.139

Length: 19.5km (12m)
Toughness: 6 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:17 train from London Bridge, arriving in Tadworth at 10:08. Returns from Tadworth at xx:13 and xx:43. Tadworth is in Zone 6 so you can use your Oyster Card.

This is a great, exhilarating walk across Headley Heath and Box Hill and later following sections of the North Downs Way. There are short cuts and longer options available. The recommended lunch stop is The Tree on Box Hill.

  • 14-Mar-22

    An attraction you forgot to mention are the Pygmy goats 🐐

  • 20-Mar-22

    clear blue sky 14 variously arriving by train and car and joining at random intervals. Most did the Whitehill extension and got quickly to the Box Hill view point where at least one went for tea and was never seen again. The rest converged on the Tree which provided a really excellent Sea Bass in a Sunny sheltered garden. Service was a bit slow for some and we were there for two hours but we all enjoyed the experience. After lunch five did the longer route via the North Downs Way and Walton Heath stopping at the Blue Ball for further refreshment. The others made their way back to various car parks and Tadworth. A great day out and I hope many more to come now the days are longer.

Sat, 11-Sep-21 : Tempting Tadworth 17
Stargazer
Stargazer

A Tempting Tadworth Circular (via Headley Heath) t=swc.139

Distance: Short, Medium and Long on offer:


Short: 8.8 miles/14 km

Medium: 12.1 miles/ 19.5 km
Long: 14.5 miles/ 23.1 km

Difficulty: 4 or 6 out of 10 – depending on distance


Train: Take the 9:17 AM Caterham/Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge, arriving at Tadworth at 10:08. Return trains from Tadworth are at 13 and 43 minutes past the hour. Tadworth is in London zone 6.


Given its close proximity to London, this walk has a very rural feel. It first crosses picturesque Headley Heath before approaching Box Hill from the “back-side”. The shorter option omits the Box Hill view point, but explores more of Headley Heath. In the afternoon, you have a choice of route back to Tadworth, one more direct across the heathland and one taking in a longer section of the North Downs Way before circling back. You can find more information about the walk and the instructions here.


There are a couple of pubs doted around the route, one coming quite early (the Cock Inn) and one quite late on the main walk (but perfect for the short walk) (The Tree) which seems to be the usual refreshment stop on past outings of this walk. There are also some National Trust cafes on Box Hill providing light bites and of course Box Hill itself provides a lovely spot for a picnic.

Enjoy the walk!

  • 11-Sep-21

    All trains canceled this morning due to major disruption. A group is heading towards Epsom Downs to start walk from there and hopefully pick up route on Headley Heath.

  • 13-Sep-21

    Chaos was the order of the day. At least at the start....Fortunately, one prospective walker had altered me to the vast cancellations, so I was somewhat prepared for the situation at London Bridge on arrival where nearly every train was cancelled for the foreseeable future....Almost immediately bumping into some regulars milling about the station, one of whom had a very good suggestion of taking one of the few functioning trains to Epsom Downs from where we could eventually pick up the originally planned route near Headley Heath....Doing a sweep of the station, I managed to find a number of other familiar faces and altered them of the new plan...so, eventually 11 of us arrived (slightly delayed) at Epsom Downs for an experimental map-led route across the race course, through some woods, under the M25 to connect with the route at the church in Headley....Here one opted for an early lunch and the rest carried on...Given the late start, some opted for the shorter walk while a few with picnics managed to make it all the way to Boxhill. On the short version, one late starter caught up with two who had a rest break on the heath and 3 others (who had managed to start in Tadworth by taking a tram from West Croydon to East Croydon and catching a train south from there) met the rest of the group at the late lunch pub where at least one lunched and the others had refreshments. Two more regulars where encountered on our way back across the heath to Tadworth who had designed their own route in the area, making for 17 on what turned out to be a very enjoyable and varied walk after a rather doomed start....in warm initially cloudy changing to sunny conditions . Fortunately, train services had resumed normal operations by about 3:30pm....

11.9 miles/19 km main walk
OR
14.3 miles/22.7 km with extensions via White Hill (recommended if you like good views or steep climbs) and the North Downs Way (more ups and downs).

Trains: 09:47 London Bridge, 10:02 East Croydon, arrives 10:38 at Tadworth. Return services at xx:13/43. Tadworth station is in Zone 6.

Lunch
The early lunch stop, The Cock Inn, Headley is open and recommends booking.
The National Trust Cafe at Box Hill is also open.
The late stop at The Tree, Box Hill is also open and doesn't take bookings.

T=swc.139
  • Anonymous
    24-Jul-20

    Dear SWC, Is there a problem with the maps.me GPS file for this walk? Thank you.

  • 24-Jul-20

    Dear Anonymous, Yes there is a problem with that KML file. Some of the waypoints contain nested CDATA tags but this is invalid XML. If you understand XML then either remove one set of CDATA tags or remove the entire description. Alternatively if you have a mapping app that supports GPX (maps.me does not) then use that with the GPX file for this walk.

  • Anonymous
    24-Jul-20

    Thank you kindly, Mark. As many will not be XML-savvy, could the SWC IT gurus clean up the maps.me file, possibly? Much appreciated.

  • Anonymous
    24-Jul-20

    BTW I've got a GPS-friendly app, but others might be reliant on maps. me? Thank you, SWC.

  • Anonymous
    24-Jul-20

    GPX, of course!

  • Anonymous
    25-Jul-20

    Die to weather forecast... would anyone be interested in starting one hour earlier?

  • Anonymous
    27-Jul-20

    Hi. Is there a report on this walk? Thank you.

  • 27-Jul-20

    I think there were 12 at the station and 2 others caught our group up so probably 14 on this walk. Our group intended to do both the morning and afternoon extensions but whilst relaxing in the Tree pub the weather deteriorated so much we decided to opt for the easy route home. Highlights of the day were hearing a chiff chaff, having a pick-nick among the wild flowers on Juniper Hill, admiring some of the incredible yew trees on this walk and last but not least a piano recital at the Tree pub by one of our very own fellow walkers.

  • SardoMan
    01-Aug-20

    Other birds heard and seen:

    Blackbird. Black-headed gull. Blue tit. Buzzard. Carrion crow. Chiffchaff. Dunnock. Goldcrest. Goldfinch. Green woodpecker. House sparrow. Jackdaw. Magpie. Mallard. MARSH TIT. Nuthatch. Pied wagtail. Ring-necked parakeet. Robin. Songthrush. Stock dove. 8Swifts. Whitethroat. Woodpigeon. Wren.

    Also:

    Cinnabar moth. Gatekeeper butterfly.

    A very pleasant walk in company of a friendly small group of nice people.

    Very refreshing after the lockdown... also thanks to some rain showers.

Mr M Tiger
Mr M Tiger
8.8 miles 14 km
Difficulty 3/10
The full walk looks a bit long for the time of year, so this shorter version is advised. It explores Headley Heath and skirts round Box Hill, taking you to the Tree on Box Hill for lunch. Mainly gentle inclines over well drained paths, but steeper in places. GPS or compass recommended, particularly for the heathland.
Trains
9:24 Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge (East Croydon 9:57), arriving Tadworth 10:31 (if you miss this, you can catch the faster 9:30 Gatwick Thameslink and change onto it at Purley, departing there 10:11). Tadworth is in London Travelcard Zone 6.
Return at xx:24 or xx:54, direct to London Bridge. Change at East Croydon, if you wish, for a faster train to Victoria.
Lunch: The Tree on Box Hill 01737 845996.
Tea: choose between the Bell, down-to-earth, doesn’t do hot drinks, or the Blue Ball a bit more posher, does do hot drinks.
Directions: here
After paragraph 19, skip to paragraph 52 to implement the shortcut.
It's worth looking through the comments for this walk.
T=swc.139.a
  • Anonymous
    18-Dec-19

    I missed the train and was 30 minutes behind the the main group. I'd got the written directions and a compass, but I got lost on Hadley Heath and couldn't find the correct path so I'd appreciate more detail in Point 13 In more detail: at precent it says "enter the heath. Follow the well-used path for 360 metres, ignoring all ways off". So after the entrance gate I followed the only path, but after about 40 - 5- metres there was a fork and the left fork looked a more-used path so I took that route, which later went past a large house to the left. I now realise that I should have taken the right fork even though it seemed to be a lesser path. So I suggest that you add something like: "Enter the heath. Follow the main path. After xx metres you come to a fork in the path, take the right-hand fork. (if there's a large house to your left you are on the wrong path !)

  • 21-Dec-19

    Thanks anonymous. Surprised to hear this is still an issue. Ive flagged it before. If/when I post it again I'll add a note in my intro. Any advance on 1 ? Anyone?

  • David Colver
    22-Dec-19

    Five off the train, at least one late comer, and two very regulars plus daughter at lunch, so I am going to count that as 6 , though it might have been one or two higher.

    Pub lunch satisfactory apart from bird chirping from the loudspeakers and driving me nuts. For me there is no such thing as background music; all music is foreground music. Apparently this noise is in the background of some track that is current at the moment.

    Directions fine with GPS. I have been insufficiently prompt in writing this to recall with certainty the weather but I think it was cloudy but no rain .

Tadworth Circular, via Box Hill & Headley Heath T=swc.139
Length: 11.9 miles (19km) there is a short option of 8.8 miles (14km)
Toughness: 8 out of 10: mainly gentle inclines but some steep ups and downs

"This walk over the National Trust's picturesque Headley Heath ("open heathland, woodland, and chalk downland") to Box Hill (also NT, noted viewpoint) feels very remote even though it starts within London Zone 6. The main walk returns via Headley Heath." You can lengthen the walk by going via White Hill (Add 80m/250 feet of ascent, 0.7 miles/1km), a climb up towards Staine Street (a Roman road) with far reaching views.

Trains: 9.47 Caterham , Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge (10.02 East Croydon) to Tadworth, arriving 10.38. Tadworth station is within zone 6: use Oyster, contactless etc
Return trains are xx13 & xx43.

Lunch is The Tree, reached after 7.7 miles (12.4km), a large reasonably efficient pub. As far as I remember, there is not a convenient picnic spot by the pub, so have your sandwiches before you reach the main road, or carry on past the pub for around 10 minutes.

Tea is the "Blue Ball, a glorious place with a glassed in terrace and garden which does proper tea in pots"
  • Anonymous
    11-Jun-19

    Do i get the train from London Bridge to Tadworth?

  • Anonymous
    11-Jun-19

    Yes but if you're buying a ticket then opt for Tattenham Corner to keep the options open, same price. And...in Walton-on the Hill just a stroll from the Blue Ball is Pistols Kitchen Pie Shed...worth a look

  • Anonymous
    11-Jun-19

    Who is perfectly imperfect?

  • 12-Jun-19

    Tattenham corner is there to help with the train destination boards.

  • 14-Jun-19

    "...about 10..." I was told on the Thursday evening walk, with some walking a map led shortcut before lunch because of a fear of rain, and some also taking a bus after lunch to cut out a substantial bit due to actual rain.

  • 14-Jun-19

    10 rainy

Length: 14km (8.8 miles) or 19km (11.9 miles)
Toughness: 8 out of 10: mainly gentle inclines but some steep ups and downs

9.47 train from London Bridge (10.02 East Croydon) to Tadworth, arriving 10.38

Tadworth station is within zone 6: use Oyster, contactless etc

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here.

I had hoped to offer you a sure-fire heather spectacular this week, but South Western Railway has the monopoly on those and at time of writing they are still negotiating with the RMT, with the possibility of Saturday strike action.

But then - aha! - I thought of a walk that goes over heathland and is served by Southern trains (Ah! Ever reliable Southern!). The star attraction here is Headley Heath, run by the NT, but whether it is heathery heathland or the other kind, or how much of a mix of both, we will have to find out. Whatever, this is a nice wild walk over interesting terrain and one, moreover, that only seems to have been done by the SWC in autumn or winter before. So let's see what it is like in summer.

There is a shorter option - 8.8 miles - that stays more on the heathland and gets to the suggested lunch pub, The Tree after 4.6 miles (if my maths is correct: this info could be supplied in walk document...). The main walk makes a longer loop onto Box Hill - up via Juniper Top and coming up to the NT Box Hill tea room, where you could have a light lunch. It then works its way back to the Tree, reaching it 12.4km (7.7 miles) after leaving Tadworth.

There are also a couple of minor extensions you can do if on the main walk - via White Hill (+1.7 miles but also 250 feet of ascent) in the morning or along the North Downs Way after lunch (+1.7 miles, an extra 450 feet of ascent). See the walk directions for details.

Tea is at a pub 20 minutes walk from Tadworth station.

Trains back are at 13 and 43 past the hour. T=3.139
  • Anonymous
    12-Aug-18

    I have been eyeing the Milford to Haselmere walk for awhile. It would be wonderful to do it with the club. RMT permitting.

  • Anonymous
    16-Aug-18

    Hi guys

    I am attending this walk as I am getting a break from the builders. Like to do the full main walk and possible extension and care to join me? Yes hopefully some heather too.

    Monica

  • Anonymous
    17-Aug-18

    For those who wish to take the short cut in the morning, if you take 10:47 train - an hour later, with any luck, you will arrive at the pub at similar time to the group which did the long version via Boxhill in the morning. I am told by the ‘official’ source, more heather will be seen with the short cut than the long version.

  • Anonymous
    17-Aug-18

    Thanks for the tip re short cut. A few of us plan to take the 10:47 train.

  • Anonymous
    17-Aug-18

    “Sources close to the walk poster” say that there MAY (could possibly, might plausibly be expected to be) more heather in the short cut as it stays on the heartland while the main route goes into the non-heathy Box Hill.

  • 18-Aug-18

    27 on this walk, a number reached after complicated calculations and the collating of various reports from those on the specified train, the one an hour later, the one in between etc. The various factions did manage to meet and mix, so that was good. All possible variations and options of the walk also got a thorough airing.

    There was no heather. Just a tiny patch. So it was the other sort of heath after all. Only five butterflies all day. Most of the downland flowers were over (though there was a good showing of clustered bellflower on Juniper Top). The weather was mostly grey , with even a feeling at times that it might rain. It did not, but it felt a bit like summer was over despite the sticky humidity.

    In places the directions could definitely do with some TLC. The Tree proved an efficient lunch pub with big portions even of the vegetarian dishes, which made a nice change. People enjoyed their drink at the Bell but yours truly would like to lodge a protest at this being described as “the tea pub” as it does not do hot drinks. My companion and I (as the restaurant reviews say) backtracked 300 metres to the Blue Ball, a glorious place with a glassed-in terrace and garden which does proper tea in pots and serves nice deserts. Mention this as a tea option in the walk directions, please, and don’t assume everyone finds 1970 time-warp boozers charming.

  • 18-Aug-18

    Agree with tea pub feedback. Thought I'd already changed it. Will do.

  • 19-Aug-18

    The reccomended tea pub is, I see, changed on the home page but not in the pdf. The latter proved influential yesterday, with walkers scorching my suggestion that we stop at the Blue Ball by waving paper instructions at me and saying the Bell was the “official” tea stop.

  • Sandy
    19-Aug-18

    Indeed, an enjoyable day with varied company thanks to the variations different groups chose. I finished the walk at Mickleham to get the bus home and avoid the SWR strike - had to run down White Hill to catch the 1624 after dallying in the lunch pub, but this was a good way of adding the morning short cut and extension routes to the main walk.

    I've suggested a couple of edits to the directions on the walk comments page.

Extra Walk 139a – Tadworth Circular (short walk)
Length: 14¼ km (8.9 miles). Toughness: About 3/10

10:20 Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge (Norwood Jct 10:33, East Croydon 10:37, etc), arriving Tadworth at 11:06. Tadworth is in TfL Zone 6 so you can use Oyster, contactless or a Travelcard.

Trains back from Tadworth are at xx:22 & xx:52 (4 minutes earlier from Tattenham Corner: see below). Change at East Croydon for Clapham Jct or Victoria.

The longest version of this walk includes some stiff climbs up White Hill and through Box Hill Country Park – and no-one will stop anyone who wants to take these on – but this shorter version cutting across Headley Heath seems like a more suitable walk for winter. Lunch is at a large and not usually too crowded pub on Boxhill Road, The Tree; on the short walk you should get there just before 1pm.

You also have some options for extending this walk after lunch. The walk notes describe a longer and hillier alternative route along the North Downs Way and across Banstead Heath, making a total walk of about 17 km (5/10). In addition, after your tea stop* in Walton-on-the-Hill you could substitute one of the endings of the Merstham to Tattenham Corner Walk, finishing with fine views of the London skyline from Epsom Downs Racecourse (an extra 3-4½ km).

* The walk notes suggest a couple of pubs in this village but you could also check out the Grey Dove Village Café (01737-814171) in the parade of shops overlooking Mere Pond, serving home-made cakes, pastries and cream teas until about 4.30pm.

You'll need to download the walk directions from the Tadworth Circular Walk page. T=swc.139.a
  • 19-Jan-18

    Is it possible to join the group on the train at East Croydon for this walk? And can I bring my dog with me?

  • 19-Jan-18

    Grace: Yes. See the 'FAQ' page on our website.

  • 19-Jan-18

    Brill! Would it be possible to meet the group at Tadworth station then? I’ll be getting on the train at East Croydon but just in case I can’t find you would be great to meet there.

  • 19-Jan-18

    It is unlikely that you will find everyone sat together on the train, but people will gather on the arrival platform before setting off on the walk. They should be easy to spot.

  • 19-Jan-18

    Thank you for the info. Something came up so I won't be able to make it tomorrow, but will try to do another walk very soon.

  • Anonymous
    20-Jan-18

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

  • Anonymous
    20-Jan-18

    Since when are the comments policed?!

    Explanation please!

  • 20-Jan-18

    17 people plus Bear the larger than life but gentle puppy! Weather was drizzly . Most of us did the short walk. I think only 2 went on the long option. The Tree pub easily accommodated us for foods and/or drinks at lunch time where we were joined by the "walks inspector". Despite his kind offer of a lift back to civilisation from the pub, the thought of yet more mud and drizzle was just too tempting and so all ventured on. At Walton on the Hill, the Grey Dove cafe was closed but a few went into the pub for tea while others headed straight for the station. A nice day out.

  • Anonymous
    20-Jan-18

    A great day out, great walk, lovely people and lovely doggie.. see you all again soon, Dee

  • 21-Jan-18

    Two did indeed walk the Box Hill extension in the morning, didn't see anyone else doing it. We had a very nice lunch in the small NT cafe there. The mist really thickened and there were no views at all at the viewpoint. We carried on and did the same route as the main group in the afternoon, getting to Tadworth in the descending gloom and catching the 5.22pm train. It was a very good day out, atmospheric and full of small delights such as the raindrops decorating the birch trees.

Walker
Walker
SWC walk 139 - Tadworth via Headley Heath and Box Hill
Length: 8.8 miles (14km) or 11.9 miles (19 km)
Toughness: 6 out 10: "mainly gentle inclines", but some not so gentle, presumably

9.50 train from London Bridge (10.07 East Croydon) to Tadworth, arriving 10.36.

If for any reason this train is cancelled, get the 10.20.

Tadworth is in London Transport Zone 6 so you can use Oyster or Freedom Passes

For walk directions click here.

I have had a special request for this walk, which approaches Box Hill from an unusual angle - basically from behind, crossing heaths and woodland until it gets to the famous viewpoint. Some of this territory may already be familiar to regular walkers, but some will hopefully not be

There is a shorter option - the 8.8 mile version - or a more strenuous 11.9 mile main walk. Depending on which you do, it is 4.6 miles or 7.7 miles to the suggested lunch pub in the village of Box Hill (not to be confused with the summit of Box Hill, which is a different place entirely, though that is also visited on the main walk).

On the 11.9 mile version the National Trust cafes near the summit of Box Hill are also a light lunch option. So, as far as I can see, is the Smith and Western restaurant ("Classic American food served in a venue decorated with hay bales, saddles and a sheriff's jail") midway between the cafes and the pub, though as the walk directions do not mention this it may require a short diversion off the route.

For the tiger-types there is even a possible 1.7 mile extension to the main walk in the afternoon.

Tea is at the Bell on Walton Hill, 10 minutes from Tadworth station.

Trains back are at 22 and 52 past.






  • Anonymous
    30-Jan-17

    The Smith & Western is a rather "nice" place:- very family orientated and almost certainly "walking boots off".

    There's an interesting place just beside the Cock Inn pub at Headley; it's the Headley Village Stores. Loads of hot and cold drinks and snacks,plus they'll make a sandwich to your taste

  • 05-Feb-17

    30 on this walk, on yet another mainly sunny Saturday (after early cloud cleared). So many people did so many different things that a unified narrative of the day is impossible, but I think all options were done - short, main, both extensions. At least some did the full 14.3 miles possible.

    It was a lovely day, lots of song thrushes were singing for the first time this year and it was fascinating to discover that the vast expanses of Headley Heath were so accessible from Tadworth station. Quite a lot of people seem to have had lunch in The Tree and at least five of us had tea at the mobile kiosk on Headley Heath, which was towed away by its owner after we had finished with it.

    I personally think the directions are wrong to suggest The Bell as the tea pub - a very basic old style boozer, despite its romantic location. The Blue Ball slightly earlier would have been better. But a convenience store just beyond Tadworth station saved the day and provided my second cuppa.

    Thanks to J&J for the evening's entertainment....

Chris L
Chris L
Extra Walk 139, Tadworth Circular, via Box Hill
Length: 20.4km (12.7 miles) Toughness: 8/10 (perhaps less)

09:54 Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10:24), arriving Tadworth at 10:53.
Or 10:02 Littlehampton train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 10:08), changing at East Croydon (arr 10:17, dep 10:24) to arrive at Tadworth at 10:53.

The train from London Bridge makes numerous stops (18 in all) at south London and north Surrey suburban stations, so you might be able to pick it up en route if you live in that area.

Return trains to London Bridge are at xx:18 and xx:48 (journey time 62 minutes). Change at Purley or East Croydon for Victoria.

This walk over the National Trust’s picturesque Headley Heath to Box Hill (also NT) feels very remote even though it starts and ends in London’s Travelcard Zone 6. In the afternoon the main walk returns via the common, while a more strenuous longer option, adding 1 mile to the distance, follows the North Downs Way for a while, with splendid views southwards. There’s also an optional ascent of White Hill in the morning, offering more fine views.

After reaching Box Hill you could shorten the walk to about 7 miles in total by cutting out the return leg and dropping down to Box Hill and Westhumble station at the foot of Box Hill. This is outside the Zone 6 boundary and is on a completely different line, so you would need to buy a separate ticket if you do this.

The early lunch pub is The Cock Inn (01372 377258) in Headley, but most walkers will prefer to get a bit more distance under their belts before stopping at The Tree on Box Hill (01737 845966). The suggested tea stop is a small country pub, The Bell (aka ‘The Rat’), about 15 minutes’ walk from Tadworth station.

The Walk Directions consist only of a marked route on an OS map, but this is also available as a GPS route. You must take a map and compass. T=swc.139
  • 05-Oct-15

    Just 3 SWC stalwarts on this attractive walk in the Surrey Hills one of whom caught a later train and eventually met up with the two others at the Tree on Box Hill.Perfect walking in warm and sunny weather and the hills and woods looked glorious in the autumn sun. A tricky walk to navigate even with a map or GPS as there is a multiplicity of paths in some areas and even when you think you are on the right track you either later find out you should have been on a hidden adjacent path or the route file is taking you across terrain where there is no clear way ahead. It would be a major task to do a full write-up of this complex walk but unless there are some directions to accompany each map then it is unlikely to attract many SWC walkers which would be a pity as it has much to recommend it.

    All three of us had a final drink in the woodland garden at the "Rat" before the short walk to the station.

  • 05-Oct-15

    Just 1 more. Attempted to join you for the afternoon. Joanna and I had lunch at the Tree on Box Hill and then I did an approximation to the morning route in reverse. Given its within Zone 6 and very attractive it is worth a writing up - may be we need to revise the GPS route a bit to make it possible to describe.

  • Anonymous
    06-Oct-15

    Did a slight variation of the walk, see http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10995054 - only thing is I wasn't sure if the GPS route over Walton Heath is actually a public right of way (it didn't look like it was), so I chose the safe and slightly longer option around the golf club.

  • Anonymous
    02-Jan-18

    Historical duplicate/misleading attendance numbers cleanup project: 4