Where Royals Honeymooned in Surrey Hills | 21 km (13 mi)

📈 Grade 🥾🥾🥾Level 3/5
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📖 ABOUT:
A big, hilly loop from Box Hill & Westhumble station, right in the heart of the Surrey Hills.
We kick off past the ruins of an 800-year-old chapel, then climb through woods ablaze with autumn colours 🍂 onto the Polesden Lacey estate, where the future George VI and Queen Elizabeth spent part of their honeymoon in 1923. Lunch comes with hot drinks, toilets and a warm spot indoors if it's cold, so no frozen fingers round the sandwiches 😉.
Then it's more rolling hills and amazing views from the tops before we loop back to the station.

And as always, we do the hike together: nobody left behind, plenty of laughs and great group spirit..☺️
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SUMMARY:
🥾 21 km (13 mi) | ➰Circular | ⤴️Ascent: 643m | ⤵️Descent: 634m | ⏱️~5.5hrs including breaks and lunch
🚆 Train from London Waterloo Train Station (direct)
⛳️ Meeting Point: 2 Options
1- London Waterloo, in front of the ticket office (opposite platform 15) | 08:40 (Train is at 09:02)
2- Box Hill & Westhumble, outside train station | 09:50
📍 Hike start: Box Hill & Westhumble, outside train station | 09:55
🏁 Hike finish: Box Hill & Westhumble| approx. 16:30
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🚊 TRAIN TICKET INFORMATION:
🎟️Buy an Off-Peak Day Return: London Victoria ⇆ Box Hill & Westhumble
Cheapest fare: £15.80 with a network railcard
➡️Outbound: London Waterloo 09:02 → 09:52 Box Hill & Westhumble (direct)
⬅️Inbound: Box Hill & Westhumble, Any Off-Peak Return → London
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💷COST: Free
This hike is completely free to join but participants need to purchase their own transport tickets.
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🎒WHAT TO BRING:
2L Water
Packed lunch and snacks (food stops are limited on the route)
Waterproof hiking boots with good grip (paths can be muddy and slippery)
Warm layers, waterproofs, hat and gloves
Head torch, just in case (we finish around sunset)
Optional: trekking poles, camera

✅WHO CAN JOIN:
This is a long, hilly day: you should be comfortable walking 23 km with nearly 700 m of climbing.
Our hikes are open to adults aged 21 and over.
For safety reasons, we're not able to include children.
We love animals, but pets (including dogs) can't join our hikes.
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🚨RSVP & ATTENDANCE:
RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it 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.
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☯️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 becoming separated from the group.
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⚠️ 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.