Reigate Hill: Gatton Park in our past and present walk in the winter
Take a stroll through this parkland, designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and take a glimpse into its diverse history.
Map
Start:
Wray Lane car park, grid ref: TQ26275233
1
To enter Gatton Park use the path marked with the National Trust sign, located opposite the Wray Lane car park entrance. At the first Discover Gatton way marker post, head down the gentle slope; the park's original carriage drive.
Gatton Park
Gatton Park was landscaped in the mid-18th century by Lancelot Capability Brown, a leading landscape architect. 200 years on, his work still has the ability to impress, from tree-framed vistas to a series of ponds winding their way down the valley to a large lake.
2
At the second post take the left fork in the track.
As keen as mustard
The last private owner of the Gatton estate was Jeremiah Colman; most famous for Colman’s Mustard. He bought it in 1888 and made a number of changes to the estate, most notably the Japanese Garden and the Pulhamite Rock Garden. He also had a passion for growing orchids and won many medals for them.
3
Very shortly after the second post you will find the third post situated above a viewpoint giving you a first glimpse of this historic parkland.
Hidden treasures
The picturesque Hop Garden Pond, Engine Pond, Serpentine and Main Lake, together with the Japanese, Rock and Walled gardens are hidden treasures. Discover them on one of Gatton Trusts Open Days: first Sunday of the month from February to October between 1pm and 5pm.
4
Continue along the old carriage road to the fourth post, situated by a lone yew tree, and follow the arrow.
5
At the end of this section of track you will see Tower Lodge on your left marking another of the entrances into the park; it is made from Gatton stone. Turn right at the fifth post.
6
Keep an eye out for views across the parkland and, a little further on, the stone circle. Within a few minutes of leaving the stone circle you will find the sixth post, pointing you to the right, down the hill towards Hop Garden Pond and through the open parkland.
Stone Circle
These stones were placed in the park by the Jerusalem Trust to commemorate the turn of the millennium. Each stone represents a 200 year time period and is inscribed with quotes and poems of its respective era. You can enter the field at point 6 on the walk and take a closer look at the carved inscriptions
7
Once you have crossed the open parkland, you will re-enter the woodland fringe to post seven. Take a sharp right up the steep bank into Nut Wood. As you reach the top of this track you will be rewarded with perhaps the best view of the main lake over the tops of the trees bordering the serpentine. Once the track levels out, continue until you arrive at a junction of paths.
Bluebells
During the spring time, this area of woodland is awash with the pale blue of the native British bluebell - Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Please don't walk on the plants, nor pick them as they are very fragile.
8
Take a right at this junction, past the highest point in the park. Continue, passing Wingate Hill which offers a last opportunity to look back on the parkland. This is also a good place to try and spot the spire of St Andrews church nestling in the trees.
The present building dates from the 16th century, but there has been a church on the site since at least Norman times. The fifth Lord Monson and his architect E. Webb carried out restoration works to the church in 1834, resulting in a magnificent and richly furnished interior, similar to an Oxford or Cambridge chapel. You will find post nine at the top of this slope.
9
Turn right and head back to post three and the first viewpoint. At post three follow the arrow left taking you the short distance back to Wray Lane car park.
End:
Wray Lane car park, grid ref: TQ26275233
