Surrey

Headley Heath bluebell walk

Explore some of the hidden corners of Headley Heath in Surrey on this family-friendly trail to discover distant vistas, wander through woodlands and valleys and enjoy a vast display of bluebells in the spring months.

Near to

Headley Heath

Start point

Headley Heath main car park, grid ref: TQ193546

Address
Headley Heath main car park, Headley Lane, Headley Heath, Surrey, KT18 6NN.
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Box Hill and Westhumble station, 3 miles (4.8km).
On foot
From North Downs Way at Box Hill, follow footpaths to Headley Heath (5-hour circular walk from Box Hill), see OS map Explorer 146.
By bus
Surrey Connect 516, Dorking to Leatherhead and Epsom, alight Headley.
By road
Exit M25 at junction 9 (Leatherhead) and take A24 south (Leatherhead bypass road) towards Dorking. Then B2033 (Headley Common Road) to Headley Village.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Headley Heath main car park, grid ref: TQ193546
Stage 1
Starting at the information board in the main car park, head across the picnic field with birches and oaks on your right. Go through the gate at the end of the field and turn right along a bridlepath, marked by blue trail markers. Pass an orange topped marker to your left, keeping straight ahead on the bridleway. This will bend round to the left and begin to go downhill with birches to your right. Cross a broad track, keeping on the same bridlepath, passing a house called Goodman Furze. Walk through a small copse of birch woodland and past the old gravel pits on your right-hand side. You will come to a T-junction.
Stage 2
At the T-junction bear left and right rounding a big gravel pit on your right. You'll come to a triangular piece of grass with a seat by the trees. Walk past the seat and look left across the valley to spot the Ranmore church spire in the distance. Turn to follow the track down the hill through woodland. Ignore the minor paths. The track goes up a small slope and then descends into a small valley. At the bottom there is a wire fence that marks the boundary with Dean Wood (not National Trust). Walk parallel to this fence and on the ground there be masses of bluebells springing up.
Stage 3
At the bottom of the dell, turn right at the T-junction heading up the slope. Walk up out of the glade into an open area of heathland. Follow the path parallel to the fence, and descend into the broad valley of Dean Wood Heath. This area has been cleared to allow the heather to regenerate. Keep an eye out for more bluebells in the wood to your right. Descend to the bottom of the valley and then climb the hill opposite. At the top of the ridge you will see a short red-topped post. Take a minute to catch your breath and admire the view behind you.
Stage 4
At the T-junction, the path bears to the right and then left. The path begins a steep descent down the steps of chalk slope. At the bottom of the steps you will come to a T-junction with a track. Bear to your right, cross the track and then start to climb the path marked by the post saying 'Walkers only'.
Stage 5
Climb up to the top of Chalk Spur.
Little Switzerland
As you climb up Chalk Spur you will spot a couple of benches, so you can catch your breath and admire the views. Looking back you will see Cherkley Wood across what was known as 'Little Switzerland'. As you come to the top of Chalk Spur and the ground levels, there are some young oak trees either side of the path. The area to your left should have more bluebells. There is an old tree trunk here to stop and enjoy them.
Stage 6
Carry on along the main path, called Bridges Walk, through the trees and along the top of the ridge. The path cuts through open heathland with more bluebells either side. Ignore the minor paths to the left and right. You will come to a woody area and about 200 metres further on there is an open area where six paths meet, encircled by young oak trees called Bridges' Oaks.
Stage 7
Looking at the paths as you enter this area, take the track that is at 10 o'clock. This is a broad track which bends round to the left and begins to descend into a valley. You cross a bridlepath and continue to go downhill. The path levels out on an embankment. On the other side the path rises again up a small stony slope and you will come to another junction point where six paths meet. Take the second path on your left.
Ancient woodlands
As you walk down the path keep an eye out on either side for banks. Woods were valuable assets to landowners in olden times for the timber, wood and firewood. The boundaries were often marked by banks with trees growing on top. You can see the remnants of such banks along this path. Something else to look out for is where the path levels out at the embankment, which may have been constructed as part of a military road during the Second World War when Headley Heath was occupied by the Royal Canadian Engineers.
A spring day on Headley Heath, Surrey | © National Trust Images
Stage 8
This is a narrow dry path that opens up to overlook the valley on your left. To your right is birch woodland. Keep following the path along the edge of the ridge. After 150 yards you will come to a seat sitting in a small area of grass on your right. Continue walking along the path until you reach a crossroads. Turn left here to continue following the ridge. You will pass an orange topped trail marker for the Lizard Trail and you will also reach Aspen pond.
Aspen pond
Aspen pond is a manmade pond banked up to keep the water in. It is named after the aspen trees that grow there that love the damp soil. Reed mace, also known as bullrushes, also grows around the island. This is an invaluable site for reptiles and aquatic insects that thrive in the water. As dogs love it also, the National Trust created a dog's swimming pool on one side. As you follow the path on the edge of the ridge and you reach the seat in the small area of grass, take a moment on a clear day to appreciate being able to see 40 miles across the Thames valley to the Chiltern Hills with the telecommunications mast at Stokenchurch.
Stage 9
Walk around the pond and follow the path that leads to the left through gorse. Follow this track that goes alongside a small area of oak woodland on your right.
Stage 10
Walk back to the car park along the track that goes past the seat here and has the oak woodland on your right-hand side. At the far edge of the wood you'll cross a main path coming in from the right. Carry straight on through the gorse bushes along a broad, sandy track. Walk between Bellamoss Pond and Brown Pond and then 200 yards further there is a gate back into the picnic field.
Stage 11
Walk through the gate and into the picnic field.
End point
Headley Heath main car park, grid ref: TQ193546
Trail map
Headley Heath bluebell walk trail map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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A bench with the inscription 'Friends of Headley Heath' under a Silver Birch tree

Trail

Headley Heath circuit

Enjoy stunning views on this moderate walk over some uneven terrain of open heathland, woodland and chalk downland.

Headley Common Road, Headley Heath, Surrey, KT18 6NN

01306885502

headleyheath@nationaltrust.org.uk

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