Trailblazer Guide Books

Trailblazer Guides are produced by people who know exactly what information is needed - not just to get from A to B but to be entertaining as well as informative.
 — The Great Outdoors

DORKING TO MERSTHAM [MAPS 13-17]

Shortly into this 10mile/16km stage after crossing the River Mole by stepping stones there is a calf-crunching climb to the top of Box Hill where there are extensive views on a clear day. Crossing National Trust land, acquired between 1915 and 1952, the trail runs through dense woods with occasional views over former lime quarries, climbing short but steep hills to Juniper Hill and Colley Hill then following the ridgeline to Reigate Hill. Chalk is the prominent rock type which can get very slippery when wet and combined with the elevation gains it makes for a good work out.

It has to be said that this is not the quietest of stages and a feature of the day's walk is the hum of traffic noise building up as you approach Reigate Hill. Despite the presence of the M25 the day ends with a pleasant stroll across Reigate Hill Golf Club where you're likely to find skylarks pouring out their song as they spiral skyward from the rough. it's best to provision snacks and water before setting out as there is no convenient opportunity to do so until near the end of the day at Reigate Hill.

BOX HILL [MAP 13]
Managed by the National Trust, Box Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with a variety of habitats and many trees including box but also juniper and yew.

The smell of cat's pee as you climb through the box woods is characteristic of the species. Two-thirds of Britain's butterfly species have been recorded on Box Hill and it's home to important chalk grassland plants, see pp47-9.

The servery (tel 01306-888793; daily 9am-5pm in summer; 11am-4pm in good weather the rest of the year) offers a £1 discount on purchases over £2.50 if you arrived by public transport (see pp37-40) – show your ticket. A cheese and bacon muffin is £2.50 and tea £1.20. There is also a popular visitor centre and gift shop.

Further on, and opposite Upper Farm – but possibly hidden by trees in full leaf in summer – is Smith & Western (tel 01737-841666; daily noon-9pm, weekends to 10.30pm) an American themed diner (£8.95 for a club sandwich with fries and coleslaw, steaks £14.95) where the portions are huge plus you get a lollipop with your bill.

Surrey Connect bus No 516 (Mon-Sat only) stops at the National Trust Visitor Centre and at Upper Farm; see the public transport map and table, pp37-40.

BOX HILL VILLAGE [MAP 14]
A mile down Box Hill Rd there is a Costcutter (daily, 7am-7pm) and across the road a post office and Boxhill Village Country Stores (Mon-Fri, 7am-6.15pm, Sat to 6.30pm, Sun to 1pm).

Further on is the Hand in Hand (tel 01737-843352; Mon-Sat 11am-3pm/5.30-11pm, Sun to 10.30pm), which serves drinks only.

Betchworth [OFF MAP 14]
The Red Lion (tel 01737-843336; 4D/1S all en suite) charges £37.50dbl/65sgl for B&B and food is served noon-3pm/6-9.30pm. There is a cricket pitch behind the put.

Arriva bus No 32 (Mon-Sat only) stops by the post office. Trains run approximately hourly to London Victoria; this may require changing at Dorking, Dorking Deepdene, Clapham Junction or going via Redhill; see the public transport map and table, pp37-40.

After climbing both Juniper Hill and Colley Hill don't be put off by the short detour to Pilgrims Holt (Map 16), a modern house with a stained-glass window depicting the Last Supper. it's then a straight shot along the ridgeline passing Reigate Fort to arrive at Reigate Hill.

REIGATE HILL [MAP 16]
The path passes above and behind The Bridge House Hotel (tel 01737-246801; 39D en suite). B&B is £69sgl/55dbl with the attached Lanni's restaurant (tel 01737-244821, Sun-Fri 12.30-2pm, Mon-Thur 7-9.30pm, Fri & Sat 7.30-10pm, Sun to 9pm) offering a £15 three-course menu and – la carte options. To reach the hotel you need to cross the footbridge over the A217 to the snack bar and car park, and then cross the A217 itself. The snack bar (daily, 9am-4pm) is run by a friendly mother and daughter team, and is conveniently situated at the top of Reigate Hill. If the footbridge is being repaired (a possibility) there will be diversion signs in place. Below the car park is Wray Lane leading to Redhill.

REDHILL [MAP 16a]
A commuter town with five roundabouts shows how much it has given over to the car but it has useful services and good transport links and for this reason alone walkers may want to come here. The central area around High St, Station Rd, and the Harlequin Centre is pedestrianized.

Services
There is free internet access at the public library (tel 01737-763332; Mon/Wed/Fri 9am-6pm, Tue/Thu 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm) on Warwick Quadrant. There is an outdoor shop, Millets (tel 01737-765177; Mon�Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm), on the High St and the Harlequin Cinema (tel 01737-765547) if you want to rest up at a film. Footsore walkers will find relief at Alliance Pharmacy (tel 01737-762776; Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat to 5pm) and Road Runners taxi (tel 01737-760076) can always drop you back on the trail.

There are several banks with cash machines on Station Rd and a post office (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat to 5pm) in the Belfry Centre. The Sainsbury's supermarket north of the Harlequin Centre is open daily. The town centre is host to a farmers’ market on the second Friday of every month.

The main bus services are Arriva No 32 (Mon-Sat only) to Guildford and Metrobus No 405 to West Croydon, No 410 (Westerham via Oxted, Mon-Sat, hourly), No 411 (Oxted only, Mon-Fri mornings only) and No 435 (Merstham, Mon-Sat 2/hr, Sun 1/hr); all leave from the bus station.

The train station has services to a number of destinations including London Victoria and London Bridge (both 2/hr), Gatwick (4/hr) and Brighton (hourly); see the public transport map and table, pp37-40.

Where to stay
Convenient to the station is The Innkeepers’ Lodge (tel 01737-768434, web www.innkeep erslodge.com; 37D all en suite), which has rooms from £45sgl/22.50dbl Fri-Sat and from £69.95sgl/35dbl Sun-Thu including breakfast. There's not much by way of character but you get consistently clean, comfortable rooms, four white towels and SKY TV to indulge in some channel hopping. Close by is Brompton Guest House (tel 01737-765613, web www.bromptonguest house.com; 1S/3D/2F), a comfortable Edwardian house about five minutes from the station charging from £35sgl/25dbl/ £70fml plus VAT. The single has a private bathroom; the other rooms are en suite.

Also a quarter of a mile (500 metres) away is Lynwood Guest House (tel 01737-766894, web www.lynwoodguesthouse.co.uk; 2S/1D/2T/4F), on the corner of Lynwood Rd and London Rd. B&B is from £32sgl/26dbl or twin. A family room costs £62 for three people. The double and two family rooms are en suite. Parklands House (tel 01737-765026, web www.park landsguesthouse.co.uk; 1S/3D/1F), a large Victorian house at 10 Lynwood Rd, has B&B from £34sgl/26dbl; the family room costs £66 for three people.

Where to eat
The best of the bunch is Prezzo (tel 01737-779927; Mon-Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-10pm), at 33 London Rd, close to Lynwood and Parklands guesthouses. it's in a converted post office; pizza starts at £5.45 and the grilled chicken in £8.50.

The Toby Carvery (tel 01737-768434; daily noon-10pm) next to the Innkeepers’ Lodge (see p100) dishes up its ‘famous’ carvery for £6.99; choose from gammon, turkey or beef with eat-as-much-as-you-can trimmings. Good pub grub can be had at Home Cottage (tel 01737-762771; Mon-Fri noon-2.45pm/6-8.45pm, Sat & Sun noon-3.45pm), a Victorian pub serving Young's and which is just around the corner from Brompton Guest House (see opposite). Steak and kidney pie is £5.95. The spotless Supreme Fish Restaurant (Mon-Sat 11am-2.30pm/4.30-9.30pm), on Station Rd, is licensed. Large cod and chips is £6.40 and cod roe is £3.20. There are several coffee shops in the Belfry Centre (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-4.30pm). For an instant sugar hit Greggs Bakery, on Station Rd, does four glazed doughnut rings for £1.10 and you can also stock up on pies and pasties for the walk. Alternatively try Subway (Mon-Sat 7.30am-10.30pm, Sun 10am-6pm) on the High St. Subway serves a large variety of American-style submarine sandwiches (6” and 12”) as well as salads, cookies and muffins.

The North Downs Way enters Merstham by the quaintly named Quality St below the M23/M25 interchange yet it's surprisingly quiet.

MERSTHAM [MAP 17]
The Q8 petrol station shop is open 24 hours a day and below this the Railway Arms (tel 01737-642289) does pub grub at lunch only (Mon-Sat 12noon-2.15pm, Sun 12noon-2pm). Across from Q8 is The Feathers (tel 01737-645643; food Mon-Fri noon-3pm/6-10pm, Sat/Sun noon-10pm), with a diverse menu offering veggie sandwiches (�4.70) to lamb rump with mint gravy (�7.90).
By Station Rd North is Hunger's End (tel 01737-642291; Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, Sat 9am-2pm) which does filling warm baguettes and sandwiches from £3.70. Merstham café, Station Rd South, is a cabbies’ hang out serving huge portions of bubble and squeak (90p) and greasy-spoon standards such as Spanish omelette, chips, beans and tea for £4.90.

There is also a newsagent (open daily, 5.30am-5.30pm), and Station Cars taxi (tel 01737-645588), who are based at the station.

Train services operate to a number of destinations including London Victoria and London Bridge (Mon-Sat 2/hr, Sun 1/hr) and Redhill (daily 2/hr). Bus (Metrobus) Nos 430 (Mon-Sat 3-4/hr) and 435 (Sun No 435 only, 1/hr) stop on Delabole Rd and serve Redhill Station; No 405 goes to West Croydon and Redhill Station (daily, 2-3/hr) from by The Feathers pub; see the public transport map and table, pp37-40.

Accommodation is available at Boors Green Farmhouse (tel 01737-643903; 1S/2D) where B&B is £30, but advance booking is essential as they have a regular business clientele. The owners, avid cross-country runners, are happy to collect you from Merstham, thus saving the walk up the A23 to Harps Oak Lane, and they'll do a light supper for £7.50 if pre-arranged. If you were up to it you could walk back down to Vojan (tel 01737-644171; daily noon-2.30pm/6-11.30pm), 229 London Rd North, on the A23, for a duck tikka biryani (�7.50). Alternatively take the twice-hourly train back to Redhill (less than ten minutes) for a greater choice of accommodation and food.

Latest tweets

• Our twitter feed is unavailable right now. Follow us on Twitter