Balade sur Leith Hill – Guide complet et carte

Embarquez pour un voyage à la découverte des joyaux cachés de Surrey Hills avec cette promenade jusqu'à Leith Hill,une destination d'une beauté à couper le souffle qui promet de vous laisser inspiré et rajeuni. Notre guide de randonnée complet et notre carte GPS vous emmèneront dans un voyage sans pareil, révélant des vues magnifiques et des conseils d'initiés.

Leith Hill is a stunning destination with stunning views and hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Our comprehensive walking guide and GSP map will take you through the winding trails of Leith Hill, revealing insider tips and stunning sceneries that will leave you feeling uplifted and refreshed. From planning your adventure, getting to the right spots and knowing where to end for a drink, we cover everything you need to know to make the most of your Leith Hill experience. So pack your bags, hit the trails, and discover the natural wonders that await you in Leith Hill.,

Logistics of the Leith Hill Walk

Points forts de la promenade autour du Leith Hill

Leith Hill Walk Guide

Dorking

Our walk start in Dorking, a market town in Surrey.

As we delve deeper into Dorking’s rich history, it’s impossible to ignore its origins as a Roman settlement. Coins from Roman Emperors such as Hadiran or Commodus were discovered. It is also believed that Dorking was located on Rue Stane, a Roman road linking London to Chichester. The town developed significantly during medieval times and a market, popular for its poultry was held weekly. The name of the Dorking chicken comes from the town.

During the seventeenth century, the town declined. This was mainly due to the expansion of nearby towns such as Guildford supported by the opening of the Wey Navigation. To compete, the town tried to make the Mole River navigable, but the project never saw the light of day.

Dorking found a second life with the expansion of the railway. The first station, Dorking West, opened in 1849 on the line linking Reading, Guildford and Reigate. The second station, Dorking Deepdene opened 2 years later.

Nowadays, Dorking is a flourishing countryside town at the bottom of the famous Box Hill, which attracts an estimated 850,000 visitors each year.

Contenu connexe : Promenade de Box Hill

Dorking to Coldharbour

As you walk down the street of Dorking to reach the countryside field, you cannot help but be amazed by the medieval architecture the town has kept. You walk under the mock Tudor arch leading to Rose Hill, Dorking’s first residential development built in 1831.

You also walk past St Martin’s Church. Constructed during the twelfth century, the church was then extended in the fourteenth century.

You then set foot in a grassy meadow before entering a wooded area. You walk near a shelter with benches, called the Temple. Whilst the name suggests something mesmerising, unfortunately, the structure is deteriorated and tagged. It is not even worth a picture.

On your way down to Coldharbour, you walk through the Bury Hill Fisheries, a 200-year-old estate of 9 acres adored by fishermen for its carps, roaches and perches.

After the lakes, your walk is a mixture of meadows and forested areas whilst slowly but surely starting your ascent towards Leith Hill. You encounter horses on your way as you walk through the green pastures. One mile (1.6 km) later, you arrive at the Squires Farm, a beautiful red brick equestrian property. At the farm, turn left to get into the woods.

One more cottage on your way down Wolvens Lane and you arrive at Coldharbour.

Coldharbour to Leith Hill

Welcome to the hamlet of Coldharbour, conveniently located at the start of the Leith Hill trail. It is the perfect spot for a break. You can have a refreshment at the Plough Inn and enjoy their facilities before the climb. My advice would be to wait to get to the top before having lunch.

And here starts the climb of Leith Hill.

Rising at 294 m (965 ft) above sea level, Leith Hill is the tallest of the Surrey Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. But don’t be scared by the ascent, it is quite a shallow climb to get to the top. And funny enough (or not), this is not the hardest climb of this walk. Stay tuned.

Contenu connexe : Best Walks in the Surrey Hills

Once you arrive at the hilltop, you come face to face with a gothic-style tower. Originally called “Prospect House“, the tower is now known as La Tour Leith Hill. Built between 1764 and 1765 by Richard Hull, the purpose of the tower was to raise the total high of the hill above 1000m (3281 ft)above sea level. An extravagance!

After he died, Richard Hull was buried under the tower which was then left to decay for many years. It was renovated by the National Trust in 1984 and opened to public visit. If you have some energy left in you, why not climb the 78 spiral steps leading to the top where you can enjoy a 360 degrees view over the Surrey Hills? On a bright day, you can see as far as the La Manche.

Leith Hilltop is ideal for a lunch break to recover from the climb. You find plenty of benches to rest as well as the Tanhouse, a coffee shop offering food, and cold or hot drinks.

Leith Hill to Denbies

After lunch, you leave Leith Hill and start your descent towards the Domaine viticole Denbies.

After 3.7km through woodland paths, you arrive at the Tillingbourne Waterfalls. Tucked away on the north slope of Leith Hill, the waterfall is a nice surprise. There is no signpost indicating the spot making it hard to find unless you know what you are looking for. It is not allowed to jump or swim in these waters, but you can get close enough to get a nice picture.

Continue your walk down Leith Hill passing by the village of Wescott. On Rockery Lane, you cannot help but be amazed at the old millhouse, where the waterfall on the left side of the house is much bigger than the previous Tillingbourne Waterfall.

Wescott is a village in Surrey with a prosperous economy during medieval times thanks to wool and sheep meat. The village is composed of many pre-1800 buildings and thatched houses. Nowadays, it attracts many walkers and cyclists every weekend.

On our walk, we do not pass through the village, but you can make the detour if you want to. You will find 6 public houses should you want to have a break.

We continue our walk through meadows with horses grazing before starting the HARDEST climb of our trip. Far from being at tall as Leith Hill, Denbies Hill is much steeper. Within 600m you take 180m of elevation! Get the hiking poles out, because you would need them. Once you get to the top, the walk from now on is like a stroll in the park (well in our case it is a stroll in a vineyard).

Denbies and Back to Dorking

Start your descent towards the Domaine viticole Denbies, the largest vineyard in England. Started in 1986 by the White family, the 265 acres of vineyard produce 1 million bottles yearly. The business is still run by the same family and has become one of the most popular and successful wine estates in England.

Denbies is a great place to end our walk. You find a souvenir shop as well as a farm shop offering a selection of locally sourced goods. You can (or must) enjoy a refreshing and well-deserved glass of wine from the estate at the bar or a full meal in the restaurant.

If you are not a fan of wine, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. Denbies also has a brewery. However, please note that the brewery is not open on Sundays.

Unfortunately, Denbies is not near Dorking Main Station, neither it is near Westhumble Box Hill Station, so there is still a bit of a walk waiting for you after the vinyard.

Bon appetit and have a safe trip back to London!

Carte de promenade de Leith Hill

Do you want to do the same walk? Download the GPS map for free nby clicking on the button below. Check my guide étape par étape pour savoir comment télécharger la carte dans votre application de navigation.

Final Thoughts on Leith Hill Walk

The Leith Hill walk provides a wonderful opportunity for fresh air, inspiring views and a sense of accomplishment. Regardless of whether you are a regular hill walker or a newcomer looking for a challenge, the winding footpaths and testing trails of this scenic Surrey Hills summit offer a unique and rewarding experience. The beauty and the sense of adventure all combine to make it an unforgettable day out. So why not step into the wild and walk to the top of Leith Hill – where the rewards to be reaped are unforgettable.

Looking for more hill walking inspiration? Check out the Les meilleures randonnées sur les collines près de Londres guide

And you, what is your favourite walk in the Surrey Hills? Let me know in the comments below.

Cette promenade vous plaît ? Épinglez-la !