Looking for fresh air, peaceful scenery and some headspace? Look no further with this selection of the best Surrey Hills walks. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and England’s most wooded county with its iconic rolling peaks, and outstanding views, the Surrey Hills is a perfect place to explore on foot. Whether you’re a hardened hiker or a leisurely stroller looking for some challenging climb, the Surrey Hills has something to offer everyone. So lace up your walking boots and let’s get going!
At A Glance
In a hurry? No problem! Check the table below for the key data on the Best Surrey Hills walks. I go into more detail for each walk in this article. You find the GPS maps of the walks at the end of this post.
| Distance | Total Ascent | Walking Time | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Hill | 7.4 miles (12 km) | 1063 ft (324 m) | 3 hours 30 min | Challenging |
| Silent Pools | 11.5 miles (18.5 km) | 1145 ft (349 m) | 4 hours | Intermediate/ Challenging |
| Devil’s Punch Bowl | 11.62 miles (18.7 km) | 814 ft (248 m) | 4 hours 45 min | Intermediate |
| Winkworth Arboretum | 9.85 miles (15.85 km) | 820 ft (250 m) | 4 hours | Intermediate |
| Farnham Circular | 12 miles (19km) | 328 ft (100 m) | 4 hours 30 min | Intermediate |
| Gomshall to Dorking | 15.8 mi (25.4 km) | 748 ft (228 m) | 6 hours 40 min | Challenging |
| Guildford Circular | 13.4 miles (21.7km) | 1243 ft (379 m) | 5 hours 45 min | Challenging |
What are the Surrey Hills
The Surrey Hills designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stretches across 422 km2 (163 sq mi) from Farnham on the West to Oxted on the East. Mainly composed of chalk hills, the Surrey Hills area also covers the Greensand Ridge, an escarpment formed of sandstone and woods.
The hills cover a quarter of the county of Surrey, the highest one being Leith Hill, rising at 294 metres (965 ft) above sea level. And if you wanted to get even higher you can climb the 78 steps of Leith Hill Tower!
The Surrey Hills is an area rich in history and folklore legends. For hikers, which I am sure you are, the site offers plenty of options for walks with a vast web of pathways and bridleways. You find famous national trails passing through the Surrey Hills such as the North Downs Way, the Greensand Way and the Pilgrim Way.
Related Content: Difference Between Footpath and Bridleway
You also find waterways such as the River Wey, the River Tillingbourne, the River Mole and last but not least the well-known spring of the Silent Pools.
Happy discovery!
The Best Surrey Hills Walks
So now we covered the basics, let’s get the selection of the best walks in the Surrey Hills.
1 – Box Hill
Box Hill walk is by far the most strenuous and demanding hike of this Walks in the Surrey Hills selection. With 3 hills to climb and a total ascent of 1063 ft (324 m), you are in for a challenge. But you are rewarded by the impressive views when on get to the top! This is a walk that is really worth the effort.
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Box Hill Walk
- Distance: 7.4 miles (12 km)
- Ascent: 1063 ft (324 m)
- Highest Point: 587 ft (179 m)
- Lowest Point: 112 ft (34 m)
- Walking Estimate: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Challenging
- How to get there:
- Direct trains from London Waterloo to Box Hill & Westhumble Station. The journey takes 90 minutes.
- It is a circular walk so you can book a day return ticket
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear. You will be going up and down some steep hills so hiking shoes/ boots are highly recommended
- Backpack
- Packed Lunch & Snacks
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day
- Headcover, sunscreen and sunglasses if you are going on a bright day
- Hiking poles are advisable
- Additional Information
- There are public toilets at the Box Hill National Trust cafe
- There are visitors toilets at Denbies Wine Estate
- This is a stile-free walk
- Where to eat and drink:
- National Trust Box Hill, Surrey
- Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey
- The Stepping Stone, Westhumble, Surrey
Highlights of the Box Hill Walk
- Westhumble Village
- Norbury Park
- Mickelham Village
- Broadwoods Folly
- Box Hill
- Salomons Memorial
- Box Hill Stepping Stones
- Denbies Wine Estate
2 – The Silent Pools
Do you want to mix hiking and taking a dip? This is the walk for you then! This circular walk from and to Guilford takes you to the scenic Silent Pools, a natural spring source. The water is crystal clear thanks to the presence of chalk in the spring, making it an ideal spot for wild swimming. Cherry on top? The water from the spring is used for manufacturing gin, and the distillery is right behind the pools. A G&T, please!
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Silent Pool Walk
- Distance: 11.5 miles (18.5 km)
- Total Ascent: 1145 ft (349 m)
- Highest Point: 610 ft (196 m)
- Lowest Point: 98 ft (30 m)
- Walking Estimate: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate/ Challenging
- How to get there:
- Direct trains from Waterloo Station to Guildford. It is a circular walk so you can take a day return ticket to Guilford
- By car from London to Guildford Station
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear
- Backpack
- Packed lunch & snacks
- Water (at least 2 litres recommended)
- Hiking poles recommended due to the terrain
- Swimwear and a quick dry towel if you are planning to take a dip in the silent pool
- Additional Information
- There are public toilets available at Newlands Corner and customer toilets at Pool Bar by the Silent Pool
- There is a coffee shop in Newlands Corner in case you do not want to bring a packed lunch
- Where to eat and drink:
- The Pool Bar, Albury, Surrey
- The Britannia, Guildford, Surrey
Highlights of the Silent Pool Walk
- Guilford Castle
- St Martha’s Church
- Newlands Corner
- The Optohedron Sculpture
- Silent Pool
- The River Wey
3 – Devil’s Punch Bowl
Once upon a time, the Devil himself was digging in Sussex to flood the region and its churches. But as dawn was approaching, the Devil got scared to be discovered and jumped into Surrey, creating the Devil’s Punch Bowl where he landed.
You don’t believe me? Go and check it by yourself with this walk taking you to the National Trust site of the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Read the complete walking guide here.
Video: Watch this short video to learn more about the legend behind the Devil’s Punch Bowl
Logistics of the Devil’s Punch Bowl Walk
- Distance: 11.62 miles (18.7 km)
- Total Ascent: 814 feet (248 m)
- Highest Point: 883 ft (270 m)
- Lowest Point: 144 ft (44 m)
- Walking Estimate: 4 hours and 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Direct trains from Waterloo to Milford. The journey takes 1 hour.
- For the return take a direct train from Haslemere to Waterloo. The journey takes 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Milford and Haslemere are on the same line so you can book an anytime day return to Haslemere and get off at Milford.
- For those who prefer to drive, please note that this is a linear walk. Therefore, you would need to take the train back from Haslemere to Milford for 2 stops. Moreover, the train only stops at Milford if it is not a fast train to Waterloo, which might be an inconvenience.
- What to pack:
- Comfortable clothing and footwear,
- Gaiters, gaiters, gaiters (did I say gaiters?) as the path can get extremely muddy after a few days of rain
- Trekking poles for the climb are advisable. You can also use them to assess how deep the mud puddles are.
- Headcover as it gets windy at the top of the hill
- Snack & packed lunch
- Money for the stop at the National Trust Coffee Shop and the pub at the end.
- Additional Information
- There are public toilets at the National Trust Devil’s Punch Bowl site
- There is a coffee shop at the National Trust Site in case you do not want to bring a packed lunch
- Where to eat and drink:
- National Trust Cafe, Hindhead, Surrey
- The Swan Inn, Haslemere, Surrey
Highlights of the Devil’s Punch Bowl Walk
- Milford
- Thursley
- The Unknown Sailor Memorial
- Gibbet Hill
- Devil’s Punch Bowl
- Haslemere
- The Swan Hill Pub
4 – Winkworth Arboretum
This is a walk better done in Autumn. During this season the trees at the Winkworth Arboretum are painted in beautiful red, yellow and orange shades, reflecting on the water of the lake. Don’t miss this kaleidoscopic show of colours for grown-ups and kids alike with this walk taking through villages and the town of Godalming.
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Winkworth Arboretum Walk
- Distance: 9.85 miles (15.85 km)
- Total Ascent: 820 ft (250 m)
- Highest Point: 545 ft (116 m)
- Lowest Point: 118 ft (36 m)
- Walking Estimate: 4 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Train from London Waterloo to Witley. It takes 1 hour by direct train.
- For the return, take a direct train from Godalming to Waterloo. The journey takes just under 1 hour.
- The inbound and outbound journeys are on the same train line so you can book a day return ticket.
- Please note that there is a train approximately every 20 minutes on Saturdays and twice per hour on Sundays.
- What to pack:
- Comfortable footwear and clothing
- Gaiters as the path can be really muddy during the Autumn season
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and head cover, if you are going on a bright day as some parts of the hike, are exposed
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day
- Water (at least 2L recommended),
- Snacks, lunch and money for a coffee at the Winkworth Arboretum and the pub at the end
- Additional Information
- Public toilets are available at the Winkworth Arboretum
- Where to eat and drink:
- Arbor Tea Room, Winkowrth Arboretum, Surrey
- The Star Inn, Godalming, Surrey
Highlights of the Winkworth Arboretum Walk
- Witley
- Hambledon
- Winkworth Arboretum
- Godalming
- The Star Pub and its amazing Halloween Decoration
5 – Farnham Circular
Take a walk down history lane with this lovely circular walk from and to Farnham. Starting at the site of the Battle of Moor Park, passing in front of white witch Mother Ludlam’s cave, wandering through the ruins of Waverley Abbey and end ending at the exact spot where the opening scene of the movie Gladiator was filmed, this walk takes you places. Ready for a history class?
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Farnham Circular Walk
- Distance: 12 miles (19km)
- Total Ascent: 328 ft (100 m)
- Highest Point: 358 ft (110 m)
- Lowest Point: 164 ft (50 m)
- Walking estimate: 4 hours and a half
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Trains from London Waterloo. It takes approximately 1 hour
- It is a circular walk so you can book a day return ticket
- What to pack:
- Comfortable footwear and clothing
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and head cover, if you are going on a bright day
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day
- Water (at least 2L recommended),
- Snacks & packed lunch if you are not planning on stopping at the pub for lunch
- Additional Information
- There are no public toilets on this walk
- Customer Toilets are available at the Barley Mow Pub in Tilford
- Where to eat and drink:
- The Barley Mow, Tilford, Surrey
Highlights of the Farnham Circular Walk
- Farnham
- Moor Park
- Mother Ludlam’s Witch Cave
- Waverley Abbey
- Tilford village
- 800-year-old oak tree
- Bourne Woods
6 – Gomshall to Dorking
Do you like The Holidays? I mean the movie starring Jude Law and Cameron Diaz (not the actual time off work). Well if the answer is yes, you would live this walk from Gomshall to Dorking passing by the quintessence of the traditional English village, Shere, where the movie was shot. Shall we go on a holiday to the Surrey Hills then?
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Gomshall to Dorking Walk
- Distance: 15.8 mi (25.4 km)
- Total Ascent: 748 ft (228 m)
- Highest Point: 719 ft (219 m)
- Lowest Point: 167 ft (51 m)
- Walking estimate: 6 hours and 40 minutes
- Difficulty: Challenging
- How to get there:
- Train from London Waterloo to Guildford and change Guildford for a train to Gomshall. The journey takes around 1 hour depending on the waiting time at Guildford.
- Alternatively, you can also take a train from London Blackfriars to Redhill and change at Redhill for a train to Gomshall. The journey takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes depending on the waiting time in Redhill
- For the return take a direct train from Dorking Main to London Waterloo. The journey takes 55 minutes. Direct train from Dorking to London Victoria takes 1 hour.
- Gomshall and Dorking are served by different train operators, therefore you would need to book 2 separate journeys
- What to pack:
- Comfortable footwear and clothing
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and head cover, if the sun is out as the path is quite exposed
- Rain gear if the clouds are out for the same reason as above
- Water (at least 2L recommended),
- Snacks & packed lunch if you are not planning on having lunch at the cafe in Newlands Corner
- Money for the farm and gift shop at Denbies Wine Estate
- Additional Information
- There are public toilets at Newlands Corner
- Visitors toilets are available at Denbies Wine Estate
- Where to eat and drink:
- Newlands Corner Cafe, Albury, Surrey
- Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey
Highlights of the Gomshall to Dorking Walk
- North Downs
- Shere village
- St Peter & St Paul Church, Albury
- Newlands Corner
- Denbies Wine Estate
- St Barnabas Church
- Dorking
7 – Guildford Circular
We end our rundown of the best walks in the Surrey Hills with the jewel of the region, Guildford. Starting and finishing in the medieval market town, take the time to wander on the High Street passing by the Guildford Guildhall or even venture around the ruins of the Castle. Leave the town centre and explore the surrounding hilly countryside from St Marta Hills to the Chilworth Gunpowder Factory before heading back to the city for a well-deserved drink.
Bon appetit!
Read the complete walking guide here.
Logistics of the Guilford Circular Walk
- Distance: 13.4 miles (21.7km)
- Total Ascent: 1243 ft (379 m)
- Highest Point: 564 ft (172 m)
- Lowest Point: 98 ft (30 m)
- Walking Estimate: 5 hours 45 minutes
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Direct train from London Waterloo to Guildford. The journey takes 45 minutes
- It is a circular walk so you can book a day return ticket
- What to pack:
- Comfortable footwear and clothing
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and head cover when it is sunny as the path is quite exposed
- Rain gear when it is rainy for the same reason as above
- Water (at least 2L recommended),
- Snacks & packed lunch
- Money for the pub at the end
- Additional Information
- There are no public toilets on this walk
- Where to eat and drink:
- The Britannia, Guildford, Surrey
Highlights of the Guildford Circular Walk
- Guildford
- St Martha’s Hill
- Blackheath
- Chilworth Gunpowder Factory
- Lama Farm
Maps of the Best Surrey Hills Walks
Do you want to do these walks? Simply download the GPS maps by clicking on the link below the images. If you need assistance uploading the maps onto your navigation app, follow my step-by-step guide here.
Final thoughts
Final Thoughts on the Best Surrey Hills Walks
After exploring the best walks in the Surrey Hills, we can confidently say that there are plenty of options for anyone who wants to enjoy the idyllic scenery of the region.
With the right attitude and the right walking companion, you’ll discover something unexpected and unique that will remind you why the Surrey Hills are so special. So get out there and don’t forget to take lots of photos to capture the memories! So get outdoors and hit the trails – you won’t regret it!
And if you are looking for more trail ideas, why not check the Best Coastal Walks near London or the selection of the Best South Downs Walks?
And you, what is your favourite Surrey Hills walk? Let me know in the comments below.
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