Box Hill to Westhumble

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Walk directions

With your back to the visitor centre, turn right along the road to the viewpoint. Leave the viewpoint via the path to the left and follow the North Downs Way (NDW) signpost, the path running parallel with the road.

Continue until you reach the car park of the Smith and Western Bar, Grill and Diner and turn left to cross the road and turn left onto the signposted public bridleway. Follow the signposted route to a five-way junction and keep going straight ahead (third turning). The path descends to the valley bottom and emerges from woodland and then through the grasslands of Juniper Bottom to Headley Lane via a gate.

Cross straight over onto the public footpath and climb up a long flight of unrelentingly steep rustic steps. Just beyond the top of the steps, the path bears right and the gradient eases slightly. Soon you will come to a bench seat. Now follow the National Trust’s Box Hill Hike waymarks, through a yew wood, as you bear left and left again at the next waymark signpost. Drop down over a footpath crossroads, still following Box Hill Hike signs, and walk alongside a paddock en route to a stile. Cross the stile at the foot of the hill, and continue past the church into Mickleham. Turn left and follow the Old London Road. There’s a pavement on the right-hand side to begin with, which at times transforms into a rural path running a few paces from the road. Before reaching the junction with the Zig Zag Road, it’s a pavement again.

Continue past Ryka’s Café and the Burford Bridge Hotel, cross over the river and alongside the A24 and through the subway. Turn left then right into Westhumble Street, and carry on over the railway bridge into Chapel Lane. Keep left of Camilla Drive and continue ahead. Beyond the houses, look out for the ruins of Westhumble Chapel on your left.

Immediately beyond the chapel, turn left up the bridleway towards Ashleigh Grange. Climb steadily on a tarmac drive to a line of electricity pylons and follow the drive as it swings to the left. After 80yds (73m), fork left onto the waymarked path and continue for a further 100yds (91m).

Now turn left onto the North Downs Way National Trail. After 400yds (364m), you reach a crossroads of paths, signed to Dorking on the right. You can visit Denbies Wine Estate by turning right here and following the path to the main winery building. Otherwise keep straight on through a gate and under the railway, and pass through large gates to the A24. Turn left and cross the A24 via the subway used earlier in the walk. Emerging from the subway, turn right and walk alongside the A24 to the Stepping Stones car park. Walk through the car park, and cross the River Mole via the stepping stones. Alternatively, there’s a footbridge 100yds (91m) upstream. From here, there’s only one way to go – the North Downs Way hurls itself at Box Hill, up flight after flight of unremitting rustic steps. Swing right at the top of the steps and climb gently for another 200yds (182m) to the viewpoint. Turn hard left here, and double back for the last 150yds (137m) to the car park.

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Location

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Additional information

Terrain - Woodland tracks, with two sections on minor roads, 1 stile

Landscape - Mainly wooded, but with some breathtaking views and a pretty village

Dog friendliness - Some roadside sections and grazing animals; must be on leads on Denbies Wine Estate

Parking - National Trust car park at Box Hill Country Park

Toilets en route - At the start

Walks in Surrey Dog-friendly walks in Surrey

About the walk

Just after leaving the car park, you’ll notice a drive to a private house on your right. This is Swiss Cottage, home to John Logie Baird during the 1920s and 1930s. Baird had trained as an electrical engineer, but spent his early life on a variety of hare-brained projects that ranged from curing...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

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About the area

Surrey is one of England’s most wooded counties, with over a quarter of the landscape designated as an official AONB and plenty of history evident in the countryside. You’ll find sandy tracks, cottage gardens and welcoming village inns, and on the fringe of Greater London you can picnic in Chaldon’s hay meadows, explore the downs at Epsom, or drift idly beside the River Thames.