More images

More (2)

A stroll through Fetcham and Norbury

Recommended by

Our view

"A walk in a thriving estate with rich wildlife and a romantic history."

Walk directions

Leave the car park on the gravel track in the southeast corner, passing an information board. At the fingerpost, fork right onto a path, Admiral’s Road, in the trees, with an open field to your right. At a crossroads of paths continue ahead, and pass a large open field on the left and then at the next fingerpost turn left into the woods, through a wooden barrier.

After 125yds (114m) pass by a wooden barrier and turn left, passing a seat. There are views of Fetcham Downs and the London skyline to the left. Pass another seat and at the fork in the tracks keep left. Continue ahead and when the track meets two other tracks at a triangular green turn left and then left again to walk alongside the woodland.

View all directions

Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally wide, well-surfaced paths across farmland and through woodland, muddy in places

Landscape - Rolling landscape with good views to North Downs and over to Leatherhead

Dog friendliness - Good – dogs can be off the lead for all of the walk

Parking - Norbury Park car park, just off A246 near Fetcham (pay and display)

Toilets en route - At Bocketts Farm

About the walk

Norbury Park is a splendid area for walking and cycling. It has a variety of different landscapes from downland to woodland and farmland. Consequently it supports a variety of wildlife, including orchids and grassland flowers which attract many butterflies including fritillaries, the common blue... and the marbled white. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and also a working estate with a sawmill that produces a variety of furniture, picnic tables and signs, and a farm that makes a delicious blue cheese. Druid’s Grove, which lies to the south of this walk, contains many ancient yew trees. House parties The house at the heart of the park is privately owned. The manor of Norbury Park was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but the present house was built in 1774 by William Lock, an art critic. He restored the house in splendid style, which attracted comment in fashionable circles. He entertained many of the major figures of his day, including Dr Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds. Lock’s hospitality was so well known that, after the French Revolution, many French noblemen came to exile in England and were entertained at Norbury. Among them were Talleyrand and a certain General D’Arblay. Tales of love and marriage One of the other visitors at the time was the writer Fanny Burney, who lived nearby. Burney and General D’Arblay fell in love and married, even though they were both very poor. To help them out, William Lock gave them some of his land in West Humble to build a small house. A more recent resident of the manor house was Marie Stopes, the early advocate of birth control, who set up clinics across the country for women. She lived here from 1938 for 20 years. The house is not open to the public. Great Bookham and Polesden Lacey The built-up area near the car park is Great Bookham, which has been a settlement since Saxon times, and is now almost part of Leatherhead. In 1814 Jane Austen stayed in the village, writing her novel, Emma. The author was clearly much influenced by the countryside around, since the picnic outing to Box Hill described in the book reflects the area so closely. The area is also the location of Polesden Lacey, a magnificent country house with beautiful grounds. One of its owners was the playwright, Richard Sheridan, who gave extravagant parties there. Polesden Lacey was redesigned in its present form between 1906 and 1909 by the Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville, a great society hostess. She filled the house with fine furniture, art and antiques and held lavish house parties there. Edward VII thought she was the ‘hostess with the mostest’; she was a great friend of Queen Mary (the consort of George V) and of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who spent part of her honeymoon at the house. If you have time for visit before or after your walk, the house is worth a visit, as it recaptures some of the luxurious atmosphere of the era.

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Surrey is one of England’s most wooded counties, with over a quarter of the landscape designated as an official AONB and plenty of history evident in the countryside. You’ll find sandy tracks, cottage gardens and welcoming village inns, and on the fringe of Greater London you can picnic in Chaldon’s hay meadows, explore the downs at Epsom, or drift idly beside the River Thames.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

2.2 miles (3.5kms)

Ascent:

174ft (53m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Surrey

A stroll through Fetcham and Norbury

Recommended by

Our view

"A walk in a thriving estate with rich wildlife and a romantic history."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

2.2 miles (3.5kms)

Ascent:

174ft (53m)

Walk directions

1 of 4

2 of 4

Continue ahead for 600yds (549m) as the track leads around the wooded Denshire Hill, with a field on the left. At Roaringhouse Farm take the narrow track on the right opposite the farmhouse, to the right of the small wooden barn, and walk uphill through the woods. At the first junction with cross-tracks keep ahead, then descend the hill to meet a broad forest track.

3 of 4

At this point turn left and continue until you meet a cross-track, where you continue straight ahead. With woodland to the left and an open field to the right, there are views of Leatherhead in the distance. At the next junction with Admiral’s Road on the left, go straight ahead to return to the car park.

4 of 4

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally wide, well-surfaced paths across farmland and through woodland, muddy in places

Landscape - Rolling landscape with good views to North Downs and over to Leatherhead

Dog friendliness - Good – dogs can be off the lead for all of the walk

Parking - Norbury Park car park, just off A246 near Fetcham (pay and display)

Toilets en route - At Bocketts Farm

Walks in Surrey Dog-friendly walks in Surrey Family friendly walks in Surrey

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Surrey

A stroll through Fetcham and Norbury

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our travel newsletter

Get the latest insider tips and recommendations to make the most of your next trip

A stroll through Fetcham and Norbury

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

Get an AA guide

Sign up to our newsletter

Join over 4,000+ travelers who are getting the most out of their trips