Saturday 31 May 2025 Club walk in the Surrey Hills

View from Holmbury Hill [surreywalks.co.uk/

About the walk

A moderately demanding day walk of around 14km through the scenic Surrey Hills National Landscape area starting from west of Dorking.

The walk climbs up through ancient woodland to Pitch Hill, and then on to Holmbury Hill, two of the highest points in SE England [257m and 261m respectively] with extensive views to the south. Holmbury Hill is also the site of an iron age fort.  The walk is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Starting point

10.00am meet for 10.30am start, Gomshall Railway Station approach, Gomshall, by the A25, around 8 km west of Dorking town centre and 9km east of Guildford. Postcode GU5 9NX .

There is car parking on the approach itself and also at the station (ticket required).

NB Major roadworks at the M25/A3 interchange continue, so although there is no M25 closure planned at time of writing, the organiser will need to confirm the situation nearer the date.

The leader will navigate but the handiest map of the area is the A-Z “Surrey Hills Adventure Atlas” booklet in 1:25000. OS Explorer 146 also covers the area.  1:50000 maps are insufficiently detailed to be of use.

Route

•    Follow footpaths and minor roads to the hamlet of Peaslake.
•    Climb through woodland to Pitch Hill summit
•    Descend to the east via Gasson Farm and climb again to Holmbury Hill summit
•    Lunch taken at one of the summits.
•    Descend to the north to the Royal Oak pub at Holmbury St Mary for refreshments, arriving ~2pm
•    Follow level footpaths back to the start point, taking under 1 hour from the pub.

Total distance approx. 14km, with 270m of height gain, around 4 hours walking time plus lunch & pub stop, i.e. finish time back at the car park around 4.00pm.

Food : packed lunches are advised, as the pub has limited dining capacity

Travel by public transport

Direct trains to Dorking Main Station run from Victoria (56m) and Waterloo (50m) – car pickup & drop off from/to the station can be arranged.  A better option would be trains to Gomshall Station itself from Waterloo (52m) and London Bridge (60m).  The 0900 Waterloo service to Gomshall arriving 0952 is ideally timed.  See National Rail journey planner.

Overnight stays/dinner

The outing is structured as a day walk with no plans for dinner, so that London/SE based members can make it a manageable day trip, but those wishing to stay locally could stay at Dorking Travelodge (9km east of the walk start and 1km south of Dorking station).  There are other options but these are generally more expensive.

Equipment

Footpaths in the Surrey hills are muddy much of the year, with the exception of the driest periods, hence hiking boots are recommended – unless the weather has been very dry.  Walking poles useful, average gradients are gentle, but some short sections are steeper.

What to do next

Please register your interest by emailing the organiser Greg Clack before 19 May.

If you’re not already a Club member please join before the walk.