🍁 FREE post-festive hike: 26 km Leith Hill with Forest Views 🔦
Details
📈 Grade: 🥾 Level 3/5
Let us burn those post-festive calories with a demanding but rewarding full day adventure across the beautiful Surrey Hills National Landscape.
This is a chance to enjoy one of the most scenic winter viewpoints in the South East while spending the day with a friendly group of hikers who value good company and a motivating challenge at a comfortable walking speed that is relaxed yet steady enough to feel like gentle exercise.
Starting and finishing at Dorking main railway station, this circular route is perfect for strong walkers who like a proper workout. Expect steep climbs, peaceful forest trails, open fields and varied terrain that will give both your legs and lungs a great boost. The effort is real, but the views make every step worthwhile. Along the way we will stop for photos, take a moment to appreciate interesting trees and regroup at key turning points.
We head out of Dorking into the Nower nature reserve woodlands area. The land was gifted to the town in 1931 by Charles Barclay so it would remain open green space for public use. We will pause at The Temple vantage point to admire the scenic views over Dorking and the surrounding hills.
We continue south into deeper woodland, leaving the main trail as we pass through Coldharbour Common, a peaceful and slightly remote area that offers a real sense of escape.
We then begin the main climb of the day, heading toward Leith Hill at 294 metres, the highest point in Southeast England. Enjoy the panoramic views from Leith Hill Tower and reward yourself with a lunch break, tea, coffee, cake or ice cream from the cosy café.
Leith Hill Tower was built in 1765 by Richard Hull to give visitors wide views across Surrey and toward London. The tower and hill together reach one thousand feet above sea level, and on a clear day you can see the English Channel and well known London landmarks. Now cared for by the National Trust, it is one of the most popular viewpoints in the Surrey Hills.
Our return journey follows a rapid and steep descent back onto wide woodland gravel trails with gentle declines as we make our way toward the Tillingbourne Waterfall. Although picturesque when the water is flowing, the waterfall is man made and was once part of the water system that served local mills powered by the Tillingbourne stream. Along its ten mile route the stream supported gunpowder mills, paper mills, iron forges and even a flock mill used for fabric production.
We skirt around the edge of Westcott village before tackling the second steep climb of the day, a lung busting ascent from the valley floor to the top. As you look up from the bottom you may find yourself wondering whose idea this was. At the top we will take a short pause to admire the views and catch our breath before continuing upward toward the North Downs Way ridge. No hike along this section feels complete without that extra bit of effort, and the ridge rewards you once again.
The final stretch takes us across Ranmore Common with wide views over the Denbies vineyards. If time allows we can stop at the Denbies Visitor Centre where you can explore the shop, use the facilities, take a short break or pick up a bottle of wine before we return to Dorking railway station.
At the end of the hike there is an optional pub stop next to the railway station where everyone can relax, chat and celebrate the day’s achievement before the group splits and begins the journey home.
This hike suits intermediate walkers who are comfortable with hills. Beginners may struggle with the pace and some of the steeper sections.
🔦 Remember your head torch. The only thing that should be twinkling is your light, not your ankles in the dark.
✅ WHO CAN JOIN:
- 🧑🤝🧑 Adults aged 21 and over
- 👶 No children for safety reasons
- 🐾 No pets due to allergies and phobias within the group
💰 COST:
- The hike is free
📍 MEETING POINT OPTION 1 - (London departure):
Buy a £10.50 return from London to Dorking (main) with a Network Railcard discount. If you wish to travel as a group from London Victoria and do not have a Network Railcard but would like to benefit from a discounted fare, please arrive at the meeting point on time. The organiser or members can offer to include you in a group travel discount.
- 08:00 Meet at London Victoria ticket office
- 08:25 Leave the meeting point and board the train
- 08:41 Train departs London Victoria (via Clapham Junction 08:48)
- 09:40 Arrive at Dorking (main)
📍 MEETING POINT OPTION 2 - (Join and hike start point):
🚶 WALK STARTS:
🍔 LUNCH:
- About 13:00 at Leith Hill Tower. Bring a packed lunch.
- There is a small cafe that sells hot and cold drinks, cakes, hot sausage rolls, and other tasty although slightly pricey items.
- Bring an ass-pad to sit on in case the benches are wet or you end up sitting on the ground.
- It might be chilly, so you may want to bring a hot drink, a hat, and gloves.
🏁 WALK FINISHES:
- About 16:30 to 17:00 at Dorking (main) railway station depending on group pace
↩️ RETURN TRAINS TO LONDON:
- 16:17 to London Victoria, arrival 17:15
- 16:43 to London Victoria, arrival 17:45
- 17:17 to London Victoria, arrival 18:15
🚻 TOILETS:
- Nature facilities only.
⚠️ TERRAIN, CONDITIONS AND DIFFICULTY
- Distance: Approximately 26 km (16 miles)
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
- Ascent and descent: 479 m up and 479 m down
- Max and min elevation: 294 m high point and 46 m low point
- Average pace: About 4.5 km/h, up to 5 km/h where possible, slower on hills, a bit quicker on the flat.
- Walking time: About 6 hours
- Total duration: Around 7 hours including breaks and miscellaneous stops.
- This route includes a mix of wide and narrow woodland trails, well marked gravel tracks, uneven chalky and stony ground, and a few short boggy or slippery sections after rain. Proper hiking boots are strongly recommended to protect your ankles and improve grip.
🎒 WHAT TO BRING
- Packed lunch, snacks and at least 2 litres of water
- Sturdy hiking boots
- Layers and waterproofs
- A warm layer such as a fleece or insulating jacket
- Sun protection
- Personal medication
- Basic first aid and blister plasters
- Optional walking poles (recommended for some descents)
- Fully charged phone
- Head torch
- Portable phone charger or power bank
- Dry bags or a waterproof cover for your backpack
- Whistle for emergencies
- Offline maps or GPS
- Some cash or a bank card
📅 RSVP and Attendance
RSVP only if you plan to attend. Cancel as early as possible so others can join. A no show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
👣 Staying Together
A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone being separated from the group.
📞 CONTACT:
Please message the event host AdrianB directly via Meetup with any questions.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss or damage.
🍃 We look forward to welcoming you on the trail.