Holmwood Common
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Welcome to More Information Surrey Free Holmwood Find out more about what Holmwood Common happens on the Surrey Hills The National Trust looks after exploring, building dens and Common much of the Surrey Hills – seeing the wonderful wildlife You can start your walk at Scamells, from Limpsfield Common in the that lives there. You could take east to Hindhead Common a kite on windy days and wear Trail guide Fourwents, Mill Road or Inholms in the west. In between are wellie boots for splashing on Box Hill, Leith Hill and Bookham wet days. Pack a picnic and make car parks. From here follow the signs Commons to name but a few of a day of it, or come along for just to the circular trail and at a gentle the places we care for. Our places an hour or two. are great for running around and pace it should take you 2 ½ hours. There are plenty of places National Trust to stop off on the way for The National Trust is an Surrey Hills Estate Office a picnic, to splash in a brook, independent conservation Warren Farm Barns climb trees or build dens. charity and needs your Headley Lane You can walk the route in continued support. If you Mickleham any direction and if you feel would like to know more Dorking adventurous try one of the about the National Trust, Surrey RH5 6DG wilder paths. local places to visit, or how Telephone: 01372 220640 The main body of Holmwood to become a member, please contact our local office: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Common was given to the surreyhills National Trust in 1956, Facebook: although smaller parcels NationalTrustSurreyHills including Holmwood Corner and land west of the A24 Photography: ©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra, John Millar, John Miller, Paul Harris, were donated up to 1980. Britain on View – Rod Edwards, Vivien Hodge, Sam Bayley, Rob Adam, Mike Attwood Printed on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use. © National Trust 2014. National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846 Holmwood Common Circular Trail There’s lots to see and do at Holmwood Common throughout the year. The 3.1 mile (5 km) circular trail will help you to discover • Holmwood Common is a haven for summer visitors – the common and the flora and fauna that live both two legged and winged! Chiffchaffs, blackcaps and • Many of the oak trees that in this special place, whatever the season. willow warblers fly in from you will see on the common southern Europe and Africa, are the result of jays planting • Fourwents Pond was making the most of the acorns for their winter enlarged in 1876 to water large number of insects reserves of food. Left the horses of 3000 here in summer. forgotten and uneaten, troops who had they grow into oaks and assembled for a review • Winter months and the subsequently feed more by the Duke of profusion of berries, animals. Northumberland. particularly those of the holly tree, mean that redwings and • In the past people who fieldfares from Scandinavia lived on Holmwood thrive in our warmer winters, Common would have stocking up for their long “Commoners’ Rights”. migration in the spring. These ranged from the right to graze your pigs (pannage), the right to gather firewood Look out for! (estovers) and the right to graze your Crab apple trees are sheep or cows native to the British Isles (pasture). and are plentiful on the common; they are covered with pink blossom in spring and small, hard and bitter fruits in the autumn. Did you know? On the 13 March 1944, a German Junkers 88 plane Don’t miss! crashed on Holmwood Holmwood Common is Common. Sadly all four remarkable for its crew on board died of mushrooms and toadstools. their injuries and were With ponds, rabbit mown repatriated after the war. grasslands and a huge In 2013 the site was Explore... resource of dead wood the excavated and the remains common comes alive, of the plane, including a especially in the autumn, propeller hub are now Did you know? An ancient common of village with fruiting bodies of many on permanent display colours. Enjoy them to look at the Wings Museum It is reputed that somewhere beneath greens, dappled woodland at and leave for others after at Balcombe in the common lies a bricked-up you in this special place. West Sussex. underground command centre dating and scattered ponds. back to the Second World War. The 650 acre common is home to much of our well-known British wildlife. In the warmer months, dragonflies hover above the ponds and amphibians live in the dark pools. The air is filled with birdsong and colourful butterflies flutter from one bright flower to another. Holmwood Common For more information about Holmwood Common please visit The common is at the heart of four local www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ communities and is a hidden gem waiting holmwood-common to be discovered by all. To Dorking North To Dorking Holmwood Willow North Green Willow St. John’s Circular Trail WKJ HolmwoodChurch Green Roads Inholms Lane Dappled woodland and sunny clearings greet you – beautiful Public FootpathKey W countryside for walking, horse riding and cycling. The common is St. John’s National Trust Circular Trail WKJ Church fairly flat and ideal for families to explore, but it can be wet underfoot. Permissive Footpath W Roads Inholms Lane Great fun though for kids who like squelching in mud with their Public Bridleway WKJ Public Footpath S p o o k H i l l brightly coloured wellies. National Trust W Permissve Bridleway WKJ To Dorking Inholms National Trust Car Park Private Permissive Footpath W C Black Brook Ford Viewpoint Public Bridleway WKJ Car Parks S p o o k H i l l The ford in the Black Brook is an ancient National Trust Old one. Have a game of Pooh sticks, go Horse Friendly Car Parks Permissve Bridleway WKJ To Dorking Cricket Inholms K Pitch for a paddle, or float a paper boat. Car ParkWhilst you’re here, look out for an Private unusual horse’s head along the trail which was used to tether animals. Viewpoint Car Parks Old Horse Friendly Car Parks Cricket K Pitch Dogs are very welcome on Holmwood Common, though we do ask that they are kept under A 2 4 control and kept within sight of you. Mid H olmw oo To Leigh d L e an and Brockham n e k a o L o d r o B o k w c Red Lane l m la Ho B Mid A 2 4 Mid Holm Scamells wo Car Park To Leigh B od l L e ac an C and Brockham n k B e k a rook o D The Little Ponds L o d r o B The little ponds here are a haven o Ford k Mid w c for wildlife – look for tadpoles,Red La ne l m la pond skaters and dragonflies. Ho B Holmwood Mid How many different types of bird can you hear singing? Don’t miss the chance to create your own secret camp in the den building area. Scamells Car Park B la ck Brook B The Viewpoint E Fourwents B Pond MidThis is one of the highest points on Ford Blackbrook Road Holmwood Common – 360 feet Fourwents Pond (110 metres) above sea level. From was named after the Holmwoodthis viewpoint you can see the spire crossroads that it sits of St Barnabas Church on Ranmore close to. It’s home to Common as well as the viewpoint at all sorts of water birds Box Hill. The hill here is great to roll D – what can you see? down and even better for sledging On summer evenings, after a flurry of snow. Daubenton’s bats catch Little insects from the pond’s Ponds surface – bring a torch and you may see them. Old A Football Pitch Fourwents A The Old Blackbrook Blackbrook Road Football Pitch Kings Car Park This is the site of the old village Eutrie Meadow football pitch. It’s a great spot Pond to kick a ball around, fly a kite or enjoy a picnic with family E Fourwents and friends. Why not bring a Pond Mill Bottom Lane bat and ball and have a game A 2 4 of rounders? Fourwents Mill Road Car Park Little Mill Road To NewdigatePonds South Car Park Holmwood To Horsham M i l l R o a d M i l l R o a d Old Football Pitch Fourwents Blackbrook Kings Car Park Eutrie Meadow Pond Fourwents Pond Mill Bottom Lane A 2 4 Fourwents Mill Road Car Park Mill Road To Newdigate South Car Park Holmwood To Horsham M i l l R o a d M i l l R o a d.