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Walton Heath and Banstead Heath

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Walk directions

From the car park entrance, turn left and left again to take the path parallel to the side of the car park, with an open field and farm to the right, following the bridleway sign. Reach a small road, Margery Grove, and go straight on along the public bridleway beside Laurel Cottage. At the next road crossing, turn right along a public bridleway. Pass Walton Gorse on the left and take the next public bridleway to the left. Cross a driveway and continue straight on, following the public bridleway sign. At a T-junction of tracks, turn left, signed to Chequers Lane.

At the subsequent cross-tracks, just before the golf course and signed Walton-on-the Hill, turn right past a white-painted coal post and walk alongside Walton Heath Golf Course. At a field, the public bridleway goes left, and you continue along it between trees. Ignore the permissive track to the right and continue straight ahead with woodland on the right and the golf course to the left. The path then meets the B2032 Dorking Road.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally well-marked trails with some muddy tracks, and no steep hills

Landscape - Heathland and by the side of a golf course

Dog friendliness - Good, but keep under strict control by the golf course

Parking - National Trust Margery Wood car park

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Surrey

About the walk

The walk traverses Walton Heath and Banstead Heath, both of which have a long history – a medieval earthwork has been discovered on the northern part of Banstead Heath. For a long time, they have both been working heaths, and are now large open areas for walkers and other recreational users. The... heathlands support a rich wildlife, including more than 200 different flowering plant species, and plenty of birds – including skylarks, Dartford warblers and woodlarks – as well as large numbers of butterflies. Roman tiles The history of Walton Heath goes back a long way, possibly to prehistoric times. There is evidence that it was occupied in Anglo-Saxon times, and Roman remains have been discovered on the heath, not far from the route of the walk. They have been excavated and covered up, so there is nothing to see now, unfortunately. However, Roman tiles can be seen on the walls of St Peter’s Church in Walton. The church dates back to the 12th century, and has a lead font, which is said to be at least 800 years old. In Norman times, the manor was given to a prominent nobleman, and was later acquired by Henry VIII, who then gave it to Catherine of Aragon. There is a rumour that Anne of Cleves stayed in the manor house, and that Henry VIII may have visited her there. Keen golfers One of the houses in the area was built for Lloyd George (Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922), who enjoyed playing golf on Walton Heath Golf Course, as did several other prominent parliamentarians, including Arthur Balfour and Andrew Bonar Law. Winston Churchill was also a member, and the club’s first captain was Edward, Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VIII (briefly). In 1913, Lloyd George had a weekend house built in Walton. Before the house was finished, however, a bomb placed by suffragettes went off, severely damaging the servants’ quarters. Emily Pankhurst accepted responsibility. Lloyd George survived and his house was eventually finished. He was so keen on playing golf at Walton that some felt World War I was run from there. A few miles west of Walton is the village of Headley, where there are also houses with interesting connections. Perhaps best known is Headley Court, the medical centre for members of the armed forces, from where so many stories of heroism and rehabilitation emanate. More prosaically, Headley Grove has been owned over the years by Sir Malcolm Campbell and Terry-Thomas, the actor.

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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:

4.3 miles (6.9kms)

Ascent:

262ft (80m)

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

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Walton Heath and Banstead Heath

Recommended by

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4.3 miles (6.9kms)

Ascent:

262ft (80m)

Walk directions

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Cross the road with care and turn right along the pavement. On reaching the public bridleway sign, cross over the road again and follow the bridleway straight ahead. Where the path forks, bear left and continue, ignoring paths to left and right. Emerge from a copse into an open field and take the bridleway to the right, around the right-hand edge of a wood. Ignore the paths on the right and, on meeting a cross-track, turn right and follow the permissive track. Where the path forks, take the left fork, still following the permissive track sign on the fingerpost, and, at the next cross-track, go straight ahead. Emerge from the woodland onto a common with a barrier to your left and go straight on, crossing a permissive track. Continue along the path down to the left into woodland, following the sign for the permissive track. After walking through a copse, enter an open field and continue straight ahead to the top of it. Bear right along a grassy path to meet a track running along the field edge, near a bench, and continue along the boundary to a notice board.

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Facing the front of the notice board, go ahead and then, after 30yds (27m), turn left through the gap and then left along the edge of a wood, with a field to 1 the right. Meet a road and pass The Sportsman pub on the left. Follow the road round to the right and, on passing Walton Gorse, turn left and retrace your outward walk back to the car park.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Generally well-marked trails with some muddy tracks, and no steep hills

Landscape - Heathland and by the side of a golf course

Dog friendliness - Good, but keep under strict control by the golf course

Parking - National Trust Margery Wood car park

Toilets en route - None on route

Walks in Surrey

About the walk

Been on this walk?

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Walking in Safety

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Get an AA guide

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Been on this walk?

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About the area

Surrey

Walton Heath and Banstead Heath

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Walking in Safety

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Walton Heath and Banstead Heath

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