Box Hill is a summit of the North Downs in Surrey. It featured prominently on the route of the 2012 Summer Olympic cycling road race events.
Unsurprisingly the drive up Zig Zag Hill provided us with pelotons of cyclists and many a Lycra clad bottom.
We’d set our hearts on the Stepping Stone Walk which takes you down the River Mole where seventeen hexagonal stepping stones cross the river at the foot of Box Hill. It just sounded wonderful.
Before heading off, POD enjoyed a children’s box while we devoured pasties, cake and coffee. Not our typical 
food choice but necessary that day. Energy levels up, we grabbed a map and we were off.
At Salomons Memorial we were greeted with panoramic views across to the South. Just incredible. A path with downward steps then took us through a wood where we saw beautiful yew trees with gnarled trunks. It was then we discovered there were 275 steps to the river. Not ideal for a buggy and a toddler. We’d been so keen to see those stepping stones, we’d not reviewed the route first.
Unperturbed and with our sense of humour firmly intact, we enjoyed a leisurely Hilltop Stroll and visited the Box Hill Fort. We then opted for the Natural Play Trail which was a great alternative for a two-year-old desperate for some outdoor fun
. We even got to hop across some stepping stones near the Natural Play Trail archway.
POD found a stick on Donkey Green which she introduced to many a shrub before having a rest on the knobbly roots of a beech tree.
There were bivouacs, wooden play areas and bridges for her to explore, tree trunks to clamber across and muddy puddles to jump into. And sit in – albeit unintentionally. We even saw a rather enchanting picnic table with toadstool chairs on the circular route.
Before we knew it we were back at Donkey Green where we took in those fabulous views once more. No doubt we’ll be back to explore the magic of Box Hill again very soon – especially now we have our shiny new National Trust membership.
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Looks lovely, I am sure I have driven througfh or round Box Hill in my time but never stopped to spend an afternoon there. It sounds like I may have missed out! I do love your posts around Surrey so much more to do than I remember!
It was awesome Fiona, such a great place. Seen some other gems since, so glad we moved out of London and have all this on our doorstep 🙂
I’m sure I used to work at the top of Box Hill and despite a wonderful running route at lunchtime and a great day cutting down trees, I certainly missed most of this. It sounds wonderful. A perfect day out – despite the slight steps hitch!
How brilliant – it’s a wonderful place, so much to see. Cutting down trees must have been interesting?!
Brilliant! Looks like you all had a great time, POD especially. Sitting in muddy puddles looks much fun! I keep toying with the idea of getting National Trust membership but haven’t bit the bullet so far x
Thank you – POD loves being outside. You should get NT membership if there are enough properties to visit. There are loads in Surrey where we are 🙂
[…] There have been a few National Trust posts on PODcast already including Fairies and Bluebells, Maoris and a Secret Garden and Discovering Box Hill. […]
[…] Corner, saw fairies in a bluebell wood and visited a secret garden. She sat in a puddle at Box Hill, licked her first lolly and blew her first dandelion […]