The Folk Trail: a heritage walk with live music in the Surrey Hills
A five-mile circular walk with music, Morris dancing and poetry, set in the Surrey Hills landscape that inspired the beloved British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams.
- Booking essential
Join us this summer solstice weekend for an unforgettable day in the Surrey Hills. This heritage trail traces the footsteps of one of England's greatest composers, celebrating his love of folk music and landscape. Starting and finishing at The Parrot pub — where Vaughan Williams did some of his famous folk song collecting — we follow the path through local woodlands and hillsides, with musical and poetry encounters in the trees. Along the way, we explore the stories held in this landscape — how it has been shaped, contested and walked by human feet across the centuries. We climb to Leith Hill Tower with Morris dancers bringing the hillside alive, before descending to Leith Hill Place, Vaughan Williams childhood home, for cream teas and folk music. The afternoon ends back at The Parrot with a folk session — raising a glass to the music and the landscape that inspired it.
Moderate to challenging — steep climb and uneven steps to Leith Hill Tower. Bring a packed lunch. Cream teas, tower and house entry included.
Brought to you by Bardic Trails
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| All | £38.62 |
The basics
- Booking details
Call Book online Booking fee included in the price.
- Suitability
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Meeting point
Meet outside The Parrot Pub in Forest Green RH5 5RZ
- What to bring and wear
Please wear suitable shoes for walking.
- Other
PLease bring a packed lunch. Cream tea and entrance to Leith HIll Tower and Leith Hill Place included.
Upcoming events
T-Time Talk: MONUMENT TO THE VANQUISHED PEASANT with Leah Gordon
Join us for a Tea-time Talk with artist, curator and writer Leah Gordon, as she discusses her recent exhibition Monument to the Vanquished Peasant and subsequent book, Common People. These works explore the history of the enclosure of common land...
T-Time Talk: Holmwood Common: Uses and Abuses through the centuries with historian Kathy Atherton
For 1000 years the Common has been a resource for the communities surrounding it. That it was created was down to human necessity; that it survived was down to the interplay of politics and economics. The history of the Common is a social history...
Poetry Hub
Poetry Hubs are welcoming and inclusive spaces designed to foster a love for poetry across Surrey. These community-driven gatherings invite poets of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned writers, to come together, share their work, and...
Weekend music recitals
Join us for free music recitals at weekends throughout the summer.