About the walk
A 5.5 mile (8.5km) 'rail to ramble' walk through pretty countryside and on part of the North Downs Way from Woldingham station to Hurst Green station in East Surrey. The return rail journey takes ten minutes on a weekday.
Route details
Please note: This walk follows public footpaths and bridleways which cross private and public land. Please respect people's privacy, keep dogs under control and remember the Countryside Code.
- Start and end address: Woldingham rail station CR3 7LT, finish at Hurst Green rail station RH8 0LL
- Difficulty: 3 stiles, 2 gates, some steep slopes, one flight of steps
- Distance: 5.5 mile (8.5km)
- Type of walk: linear 'rail to ramble' (start at one point and return by train)
- Approximate time: 3 hours, plus travel time
- Accessibility: there are several climbs and descents along the way
- OS Map Explorer 146: Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate
Description
The route goes through ancient woodland and chalk grassland, both rich in wild flowers and there are good views to the south coast over the Sussex Weald. You will walk across the Marden Park Estate established in the mid 17th century by Sir Robert Clayton, Lord Mayor of London at the time. The house is now Woldingham School.
How to get there
By car - There are various places to park near or at Woldingham station (pay and display)
By train - Woldingham and Hurst Green stations
For help planning your journey visit our public transport information pages.
Facilities
- Toilets: Woldingham and Hurst Green stations
- Refreshments: Woldingham and Hurst Green stations, plus in Old Oxted High Street halfway round and at the Haycutter Pub at point 6
Walk directions
The numbers of each stage of the walk correspond with the points shown on the map.
Stages of the route
- Stage 1: Start to Manor Park Junction
- Stage 2: Manor Park Junction to Gangers Hill car park
- Stage 3: Gangers Hill car park via M25 bridge to natural mound
- Stage 4: Natural mound to Old Oxted High Street
- Stage 5: Old Oxted High Street to Oxted millpond
- Stage 6: Oxted millpond to Tanhouse Road
- Stage 7: Tanhouse Road to end of walk
Stage 1: Start to Manor Park Junction
At southern end of Woldingham station platform 1, (near waiting room), exit through doorway and go down steps to reach rear access lane. Follow lane downhill, heading away from rail line. You will pass a vehicle barrier and a lodge house on right to reach T-junction. Turn left along lane with care. After 470m on the left you will come to a track signed as a public bridleway, take this and follow it towards Marden Park Farm. When you reach a property called Shires, go through the gap just to right of it and follow path alongside hedge. Continue along the paved section between converted stables and barns to reach T-junction.
Stage 2: Manor Park Junction to Gangers Hill car park
Turn right on track, heading uphill. Follow this path for just over 1km to reach the first signed junction (with metal gate on right). Turn left here, signed to Gangers Hill car park, heading uphill. This is Great Church Wood, ancient woodland that is carpeted with bluebells in late spring. After 520m, ignore path signed off to left. Further along, at the fork, take right-hand path signed for car park. Continue ahead along this for another 1km. You will pass a few benches on left with views to rolling hills on your right to arrive at Gangers Hill car park.
Stage 3: Gangers Hill car park via M25 bridge to natural mound
Cross car park to reach vehicle exit to road. Cross road with care, turn right and then immediately left to go down a flight of steps. At bottom, turn right along path – you are now on the North Downs Way (NDW).
You will come to a bench and viewpoint left overlooking Oxted and the Greensand Ridge. Continue on the main path and at next signed junction (where main path swings right), walk straight ahead to join a more subtle bridleway into trees. The path begins by running parallel with M25 down in the valley bottom, then passes between two large beech trees and starts to steadily descend. Note: there is a steep slope to left. As you approach the fence line ahead, swing sharp left then right to continue your descent. Path approaches fence line again, turn left here and follow path with fence now on right. Follow this stony enclosed path all the way down to a bridge over M25. Cross bridge and continue ahead along track which later becomes a tarmac lane and then a junction with Barrow Green Road. Cross over road with care and go through (very tight) kissing gate opposite. Keep ahead on enclosed path between pastures. Across to the right you will see a large mound, believed to be remains of a Norman Motte.
Stage 4: Natural mound to Old Oxted High Street
Continue on fenced path which leads you past a large pond on your right, Townland Pond. Further along as you pass a private property on left, a single gate ahead leads you out to a T-junction with Sandy Lane. Turn right and follow the lane down across a pretty stream and then under a road bridge which carries A25 overhead. You will emerge to a junction with Old Oxted High Street, where you can find refreshments.
- If you wish to cut short the walk, you can get to Oxted station by turning left heading downhill to cross the busy A25 using the subway, then follow Church Lane to roundabout and continue ahead to reach Oxted Station.
Stage 5: Old Oxted High Street to Oxted millpond
To continue on main route, cross over the High Street and continue ahead along Beadles Lane. After 220m, turn left into Springfield, a side road (passing Old School House). As the road bends left, keep ahead on tarmac driveway by house called Blackthorns. As you reach gateway, take narrow fenced footpath on right beside driveway. The path leads you past the mill pond for Oxted Mill on left which is on the River Eden.
Stage 6: Oxted mill pond to Tanhouse Road
Cross over road beyond mill pond and continue ahead passing mill on left and Mill Cottage on right. Follow gravel track which swings right then left and leads you to a kissing gate. Go through this (into a horse paddock, so take care with dogs) and go straight ahead to reach stile opposite. Cross stile (can be very muddy) to reach second paddock and cross this diagonally left to reach a stile on the far side. Cross stile and walk ahead keeping hedge on your left. At far end of field, another stile leads you out to Tanhouse Road with the Haycutter pub opposite.
Stage 7: Tanhouse Road to end of walk
Cross over road with care and turn left along pavement and continue along it to swing left across a stream and climb gradually to reach a crossroads. Cross over with care and go straight ahead into Church Way. Further along you will pass St John's Church on your left. At T-junction with Oast Road turn right. Follow road for just 100m, to a point just past house no. 23 (Green Halt). Turn left here through a staggered barrier to join the fenced footpath which leads you past Adsum Cottage (no. 25) on left and you will emerge directly alongside Hurst Green Station, where this walk ends.
From here it is a 10 minute train journey (on weekdays) back to Woldingham Station where the walk began.
Map
The map shows the start of the walk at Woldingham railway station. You will join the North Downs Way just after Gangers Hill, walk to Old Oxted High Street and the millpond, then along Tanhouse Road to arrive at Hurst Green Station, where this walk ends. Select the map of the route below to open a larger version in a new window, that can be printed, if necessary, using your browser print tool with landscape selected. Alternatively, you can save the image to your mobile device, for reference on your walk.
