Leith Hill
Dorking
Children will enjoy going up the tower, using the telescopes and the getting ice-cream from the kiosk at the bottom.
The rhododendron wood at Leith Hill is a joy in May and June.
The Basics
Time:
Distance: 3.6 km / 2.2 m
Terrain: Woodland paths, mostly firm and well surfaced, road crossings, steep hills and steep steps.
Pushchairs: The complete woodland walk circuit detailed below is not suitable for pushchairs, although pushchairs can access the Rhododendron Wood and The Tower separately via the Rhododendron Wood car park for the flowers and then Starveall car park for a 3/4 mile walk to the tower.
Dogs: Well behaved dogs are welcome and they should be on leads if livestock is encountered.
Refreshments: There is a kiosk selling light snacks, drinks and ice-creams at the bottom of the tower as well as picnic benches.
Toilets: There are no public toilets on this route unless you are visiting Leith Place.
Public Transport: There is no public transport to this location.
Parking: There are four car parks, but for the Woodland Walk we recommend using the Rhododendron Wood car park on Tanhurst Lane, free for NT members or Paybyphone: £1.50 per hour for first 2 hours; £4 for up to 4 hours; £6 for 5 hours and more (Postcode: RH5 6LU - W3W: ///certified.feast.rent )
Leith Hill is the highest point in South-East England
Leith Hill comprises woodland, farmland, a tower and a historic home, all managed by The National Trust. Our guide follows the woodland walk which will take you through the Rhododendron Wood, which blooms through late spring with rhododendrons, azaleas and bluebells. The route then climbs to the hill top where you will be able to go up the tower and enjoy the far-reaching views.
The Route
Start the walk by following the signposts into the Rhododendron Wood. The Woodland Trail is marked by orange posts and begins on the path directly ahead of you. However, to see the best rhododendrons, you will want to explore some of the paths to the left and right first. Once you have enjoyed the flowers, come back to the first orange marker as your starting point.
Follow the path straight down the hill, and then when you come to a junction and no orange marker, veer right, sticking with the main path. At the next junction, go left and walk around the wooden barrier. Just before you reach the next wooden barrier, the Woodland Trail will veer off to your left. At the sign for the Etherley Farm loop, keep left, unless you want to add the extra distance.
Go through the kissing gate and follow the path directly across the field. You will see Leith Hill Place up to your left. Go through another gate and views will open up to your right as you pass directly in front of the house. At the end of the field, go through a gate and reach a tarmac lane. Turn left and walk up the lane for just a few metres before crossing the road and continuing over a ramp onto the path on the other side.
Snake your way through the woodland, passing a pond and a few little wooden footbridges. At a cross roads, go straight over onto a wider, more open path. The path will begin to rise quite steeply until you reach a barrier and the road. Turn left towards Windy Gap car park.
At the back of the car park, you will find steep steps that take you 1/4 mile up the hillside to the tower at the top. The tower is open on weekends and bank holidays from April to November, and it will cost £3 per adult, £1 per child and under fives go up free, as do members. The spiral staircase takes you up past an exhibition room to the top of the tower. The views are remarkable - we can’t think of anywhere else on our walks where you can see so far. In one direction you can make out the London skyline, in another the English Channel and our personal favourite was watching the planes coming in to Gatwick. There are a couple of telescopes to help you zoom in on the view. At the bottom of the tower is a kiosk selling refreshments.
The walk continues to the right of a three-sided information board. Follow the orange markers through the woodland and they will eventually veer off the main track to take you down some rough downhill terrain and then the road. Cross the road and make your way back to the car park.
We all agreed that the walk may have been easier to come down the steep steps rather than up, so you may prefer to reverse this route and start by leaving the car park following the signs to the tower first!
You can visit Leith Hill Place, former home of composer Ralph Vaughn Williams, from the Rhododendron Wood car park. It is also open weekends and bank holidays, April to November. It is free to members and under fives, otherwise tickets are £5.50 for an adult and £2.75 for a child. Combined tower and Leith Hill Place tickets cost £6 for and adult and £3 for a child.
There are multiple marked trails starting from the different car parks. We chose this one as it included the rhododendrons, the house and the tower.
Did you know?
In 1847 Josiah Wedgwood III moved to Leith Hill Place and his wife, Caroline, is believed to have planted the Rhododendron Wood. She was the sister of naturalist, Charles Darwin.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Norbury Park which you can see from the top of Leith Hill and is another great place to walk in the area with views and woodland.
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