Polesden Lacey - Westhumble - Ranmore Common - Polesden Lacey

Richard Clayton

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The walk starts in the car park of Polesden Lacey, with its stunning location on the crest of a hidden valley of the North Downs and as it unfolds, it has something different to offer at almost any time of the year: bluebells in spring, bright blue skies and wonderful views in summer, and the chance to picnic and enjoy the golden colours of autumn.

Polesden Lacey, originally a Regency house built in 1821, enjoyed its heyday in the Edwardian period of a hundred years ago, when it was extensively rebuilt by society hostess Mrs Ronald Greville and became the scene of many glamorous house-parties. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth spent part of their honeymoon there in 1923. It is now one of the jewels in the crown of the National Trust and is a very popular spot for families and walkers.

The outward leg of the walk skirts the NT grounds and takes you along paths and lanes on the north slopes of the ridge. As you approach Westhumble, there are views ahead across the Mole Gap to Box Hill. This dramatic landscape has inspired writers, poets and artists and Box Hill features in Jane Austen's novel Emma.

As you turn for home around the southern slopes, the views south towards the South Downs are even more spectacular. A good picnic spot with a view is Steer's Field (Waymark 20).

You return along part of the North Downs Way. Beginning in Farnham – at an insignificant fingerpost beside a busy road junction - the trail follows the line of the North Downs eastwards close to Guildford, Dorking and Reigate to reach the Kent border. Thereafter it passes close to Rochester, crosses the River Medway and continues along the downs to end at Dover. Much of the trail follows the legendary Pilgrims Way. This historic route has, for centuries, been used by those making pilgrimages to pray at holy shrines.

England - South England - Surrey - North Downs

Features

Birds, Church, Gift Shop, Great Views, Hills or Fells, National Trust, Restaurant, Stately Home, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

2/22/2018 - Kevin Hilton

Completed this walk on a cold and sunny February day. It is superb. To avoid the much commented on section between WM24 and 25 we opted to turn right at WM22 and follow the byway/bridleway due north via Yewtree farm. It affords wonderful views of Poleslden Lacey and is kinder on the feet. Thank you Richard.

4/9/2017 - Sharyn Eilertsen

A lovely walk with very good instructions for the most part. Took a wrong turning towards the end but found another way to Polesden Lacey so not a problem. Waypoint 6/7 - the farm owner has applied for the public footpath to be diverted so that you go up past the farmhouse and through a field which would then mean that you need to turn right at the road to get to the next waypoint.

8/23/2015 - Nicola Clarke

Lovely walk. We started in the rain but had plenty of shelter from the trees and the sun came out just in time to admire the the beautiful views.I agree that the last stretch isn't the best part of the walk..a bit long and the path is very stoney.Please note that some of the stiles referenced are now gates (point 11) At point 14 don't take the first signposted left turn along the back of a field as we did but keep going up the hill until you see Ashleigh Grange.At point 22/23 there is now a fingerpost. Would definitely do it again, thank you !

1/25/2015 - Jackie Reiss

This was a really wonderful walk. Stunning views and very varied, even done today, at the least colourful time of year. It would have 5 stars if not for the long stony track between WM24 and 25 (though we were warned!). It took us almost exactly 3 hours, walking at a steady pace, no stops other than to look at views. Lovely views over to Box Hill. I hope to do this again with a group and will go at a (hopefully less muddy time of year. The stretch between WM 9 and 10 was very muddy and slippery, so I'm glad we had poles to help. We got a bit lost at the beginning, though can't see where - but it's easy to find where you are and we picked up again very quickly. We also missed the two foot bridges over the path near the end, but the track we were on took us back up to the carpark anyway. Thanks again for the route!

3/31/2014 - Andy McTaggart

Big Thanks to Richard Clayton for putting together such an excellent walk. This one takes in some absolutely stunning views and we enjoyed a lovely day out on the 30th March 2014. Our gps clocked this walk at just shy of 8 miles. The car parking day charge is now three pounds and a scrummy cream tea from the Polesden Lacey cafe is the perfect way to round off this tranquil and delightful walk. If you walk this from the middle of April onwards you will enjoy vast carpets of blue bells along the way as well as the odd deer and red kite. All in all a cracking all rounder.

3/31/2014 - Andy McTaggart

1/1/2011 - Anthony Danbury

One of my favourite walks so far. We also got a bit lost at the beginning but there are some stunning views. I highly recommend.

10/2/2010 - Patricia Daw

We got slightly lost at the beginning of this walk - DO NOT head for the new gate you see to the left of the huge felled tree at wm 2 as we did! The views started off beautiful but then the rain and cloud appeared so we will revisit this walk again soon when it is drier and the autuman colours are more prominent. The last bit of the walk along a flinty path was the worst part of the walk and a bit of a drag. Do not be tempted to assume that the two gates you come to near the end of the climb at the end are the ones mentioned in the directions - keep going for another 100 yds or so.

6/23/2010 - Karen Jankel

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this walk. We did wonder whether the length of time was correct because 4 hours for a 7 mile walk seemed a lot but, in the event it took us 230 minutes, probably due to the fact that we had to keep stopping to admire all the stunning views! The only other point to bear in mind is that the walk is quite remote and dark in a few places (even on a sunny day) and, as two women on our own, we felt slightly vulnerable. That apart, it's a fabulous walk with great variety and some truly wonderful scenery.