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1. From the Running Horses pub, turn right and
walk along the road past St Peter’s church. Take the
left turn up a driveway past the church, alongside
the graveyard, following the footpath sign. Just
before the private sign, cross the stile on the right,
which takes you up through the woods. There can be
sheep in the field to your right but it is well fenced.
As the path starts to veer away from the field, take
the right path at the footpath marker up quite a
steep hill to a wide footpath (Thames Down Link)
and an information board for the Box Hill estate –
keep straight ahead uphill.
2. At the next footpath marker turn right and then
left into some conifers and at the fence post right
again and you will come out onto a viewpoint with a
bench. Keep straight ahead with the bench behind
you and follow the path down some steps.
3. Cross straight over the road at the bottom of the
steps, go through the car park and take the public
bridleway, ignoring the footpath sign on your left.
Follow this path up Box Hill.
4. At the top of the hill, as you enter the yew woods,
take the first pathway on your right, following the
nature walk sign. At the next junction, take the
second right turn through some deciduous
40 x R&A HASLEMERE & VILLAGES
Mickleham & Box Hill
This is a strenuous walk starting and finishing in the village of
Mickleham but the effort is worth it as the route takes in Box
Hill, a prominent Surrey landmark and probably the best
known part of the North Downs. Box Hill derives its name
from the rare box trees that grow on its lower slopes and on a clear day
you can see for 25 miles south from the Salomons Memorial Viewpoint at the top, where
there is a café and visitor centre. You will also cross the River Mole by the stepping stones
on the site of the original ford used on the Pilgrims’ Way, before making your way back
through the open parkland of Norbury Park.
Dogs can enjoy off-lead walking across the whole of Box Hill and as you go up through the
woods you will see some of the best yew woodlands in southern England before reaching
the mixed deciduous trees at the top. Halfway round they can have a lovely swim in the
river at the stepping stones (although there is a bridge for non-swimming dogs). Norbury
Park at the end of the walk is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and its managed grassland
is great for dogs to run free.
woodland. Turn left at the next T junction onto a
wide path, which will bring you out onto Donkey
Green. Keeping the green on your left, follow the
path round to the car park and the visitor centre is
straight ahead of you.
5. Leaving the visitor centre, turn right and take the
footpath past the Swiss cottage where John Logie
Baird carried out some of his first experiments in
television and carry on to the Salomons Memorial
Viewpoint – so called as it was Leopold Salomons
who bought Box Hill for the National Trust in 1913.
6. Take the footpath underneath the viewpoint to
your right into some trees and then turn left,
following the signs for the North Downs Way down
steps to the bottom. Ignore the sign to the Stepping
Stones footbridge on your right and cross the
stepping stones. If your dog won’t swim, take the
path to the bridge and rejoin at point 8.
7. From the stepping stones, walk up to the car park
and take the right-hand footpath, which takes you
down to the river again.
8. Walk past the bridge and follow the river all the
way along through the meadows until you see the
A24 in front of you.
February 2013