BOX HILL WALKING specialSummit Jo Vaughan heads for the North Downs and one of Surrey’s high points NE OF the most famous spots DIRECTIONS on Surrey’s North Downs, Drive to the National Trust centre and O Box Hill, is where I completed 1stop in the main car park. Starting my Duke of Edinburgh’s Award hike. from the door to the shop, head diagonally I remember what a haul it was to right across the small field, past the picnic get to the top, but the views were place and back to the road and the corner magnificent. You can see vineyards to of the car park – but don’t cross the road. ❖ the west, woodland to the south and Instead, continue right along the tarmac green pastures in every other direction path. This soon bends away from the road Ordnance Survey far off into the distance. and leads towards a viewing platform that Landranger Map 187 The National Trust has an information offers spectacular views. centre here in The Old Fort (call 01306 Enjoy the scenery and then go down 885502) where you can also ask about 2the wooden steps to the right of the guided walks and hire mountain bikes. platform (to the level of the white plinth on Our walk starts from the door of the café, your left). Turn right, so the view is on your as there are plenty of adjacent parking left, and continue until you reach the path’s facilities. We start by walking down the crossroads. Turn left down a flight of steps slopes to the river Mole, before ascending onto the North Downs Way (unsigned). via Happy Valley. At the bottom of these steps there’s a >> March 2011 The Caravan Club Magazine 71 WALKING BOX HILL signpost featuring an acorn and two yellow stone stating that the stepping stones are crossroads at the bottom of the descent arrows. Continue straight ahead following to the left and the footbridge to the right. you’ll come to a more major track. Turn The Caravan the ‘River Sidewalk’ arrow, ignoring the Veer right to the footbridge, and then right following the blue public bridleway Club Magazine footpath to the left. The route continues cross this before immediately heading sign. You are now in Happy Valley. recommends the use of Ordnance with more wooden steps. right to walk along the riverside. You are Pass the post marked with a number Survey maps – your idealnavigating passport to Follow the path around to the right, now at the bottom of the steep chalk 7‘10’ and continue ahead past posts Britain 3still on the North Downs Way, flanks of Box Hill. marked ‘11’ and ‘12’. At a T-junction at following the yellow arrow once again. At the road, turn right and cross the top of the hill, there’s a signpost Where the path branches, there’s a central 4 the road bridge that spans the river. marked with a number ‘14’ – turn left Then keep right to walk past the Burford here. Immediately go straight across the Bridge Hotel, following the ‘Surrey crossroads and continue along the still Cycleway Link’ road sign. Continue up wooded path. the road for a short distance, past the Keep to the major track as it runs car park (there’s also a public toilet 8alongside a wooden fence. When you and café here). Continue ahead at the reach the road, opposite the Smith & INFORMATION road junction signposted ‘Mickleham’, Western restaurant, cross and turn right keeping to the pavement. along the adjacent footpath, past a Club site: Alderstead Heath, Dean Lane, Merstham, Redhill, At the crest of the hill, by a public ‘National Trust – Box Hill’ sign. The road Surrey RH1 3AH. Call 01737 644629. Distance: 3.5 miles/5.6km 5footpath sign beside some stone steps, takes you all the way back to the car park Terrain: muddy tracks, some pavement turn right following its direction up a steep and The Old Fort. Number of stiles: 0 asphalt track, past Pinehurst Lodge. Essential equipment: Ordnance Survey Explorer 146 – Dorking, Where the path branches to the right Box Hill and Reigate towards a house, continue straight ahead Level of difficulty: moderate following the yellow arrow. Refreshments: National Trust’s The Old Fort (close to start), Where the path branches again next to Mercure Burford Bridge Hotel Directions and parking: park at the National 6an open view of Juniper Hall on your Trust Old Fort car park found where the road left, keep left ignoring the path that rises named ‘The Zig Zag’ meets with Boxhill Road. steeply to the right. Keep left again where The car park costs £3 for the whole day the pathway narrows and starts to descend (free to National Trust members). slightly, following the purple and yellow Toilets: National Trust’s The Old Fort; public arrows on a signpost to your left. Soon the toilets in car park opposite Mercure Burford Bridge Hotel track begins to descend more sharply – be careful as this can be slippery. At a 72 The Caravan Club Magazine.