Box Hill butterfly walk long route
Box Hill offers a mix of chalk grassland paddocks rich in wildflowers, such as the rare native box, and sweeping areas of yew and broad-leaved woodland on steep slopes above Dorking.
Enjoy the abundant wildlife and wildflowers
This is one of the richest areas for butterflies in Britain, with more than 40 species occurring annually, including silver-spotted skipper, chalkhill, Adonis and small blues, dark-green and silver-washed fritillaries and white admiral and purple emperor.
Map
Start:
The Old Fort servery and shop, grid ref: TQ178513
1
With your back towards the food servery, turn left past the Learning Space and take the track, past the vehicle barrier, by the wood edge that leads down slope, past the Old Fort. Stay on this broad stoney track as it runs along the bottom of a steep grassy bank on your left, and above mixed woodland.
Butterflies
Point 1 on this walk is a good general interest area with the possibility of spotting speckled wood, marbled white, meadow brown and common blue.
2
Turn right down first set of steps, that run down through a belt of yew woodland, cross stile and continue down steps on to steep north-facing chalk grassland slope. Follow path into the bottom of the valley, to the right of the horseshoe bend in the road.
Butterflies and moths
The valley bottom at point 2 is a good spot for small blue and dark-green fritillary, when in season, and many butterflies visit the flowers here. Look out also for red and black day-flying burnet moths.
3
Bear left and uphill along the sheep track just above the road bend, and follow this track as it ambles gently upslope. Follow it to the end, above the next horseshoe bend, coming out on to the road via a short set of steps.
Butterflies and day-flying moths
The area at point 3 is good for dingy and silver-spotted skippers, common blue and marbled white butterflies. Look out also for day-flying moths, including the rare straw belle and local chalk carpet. You may even see a clouded yellow here in August or September.
4
Cross Zig-Zag Hill road, bearing slightly to the left and aiming for another short set of steps leading into another downland paddock. This paddock is worth exploring, but your exit path is in the top left-hand corner - the broad path leading through light woodland to The Tower.
Butterflies and flowers
The paddock is a good place to look for chalkhill blue, brown argus and silver-spotted skipper, as well as chalk grassland flowers.
5
Near The Tower (a folly), turn right down a narrow path through woodland. Carry on down this path, bearing slightly left and avoiding turns to the right. Carry on down a set of steps near the bottom of the wooded slope, that leads into an area of open grassland in Juniper Bottom.
Butterflies
The downward slope is a shady section with speckled woods and the occasional silver-washed fritillary, but the glades in Juniper Bottom are the best area for butterflies on Box Hill.
6
Turn right on to the vehicle track in Juniper Bottom. Follow this all the way along and up this narrow valley with steep wooded sides and flowery grassland glades. The path steadily climbs into woodland.
Butterflies
In spring, the glades abound with dingy and grizzled skippers. In high summer dark-green and silver-washed fritillaries visit bramble, knapweed and marjoram flowers, white admirals grace the wood edge and the occasional purple emperor can be seen drinking from the path or soaring high over the trees.
7
Near the woodland summit, at a glade where five paths meet, by a large yew tree, turn first right at this staggered cross rides. Follow this track, over a cross rides, back towards the car park, shop, toilets and servery. The last part of this path is part of the Children's Play Trail.
Butterflies
A woodland section, with white admiral, silver-washed fritillaries, commas and the occasional purple emperor in or over the glades.
End:
The Old Fort servery and shop, grid ref: TQ178513
