The Majestic Commons

We’re lucky to have so many National Trust sites to visit in Surrey. From Winkworth Arboretum and Claremont to Polesden Lacey and Hatchlands Park, we’ve seen quite a few now. But there are many, many more to explore and of course re-visit.

With POD at home one day during the week we try to get out and discover new places. This time was the turn of Witley and Milford Commons, described as a rich and varied landscape buzzing with wildlife. 

It’s designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

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When we arrived we were met with heathland views of burnt orange. The bridlepath was also littered with patches of lush green moss.

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Having spotted some interesting looking trees, including one that resembled a duck, we headed towards the secluded woodland glades. You could already sense there was something special about these Commons.

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Majestic trees that seemed hundreds of years old wore coats of moss and algae. Quite a breathtaking sight at times. You could almost imagine you were part of a fairy tale and the trees danced after dark!

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POD found the excess water squelching underfoot highly entertaining. As was finding sticks of varying sizes and placing them in pools of water.

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Although we’d missed it en route, the rain returned shortly afterwards. Little drops closely followed by a huge downpour. Our exploring cut short, we rushed back to the car only for the sun to appear!

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It’s said on a late spring evening you might hear the song of a nightingale at the Commons. And during the warmer months they’re alive with bird song from Tree pipits and Woodlarks. We’ll most certainly be back, hopefully next time with a picnic!
Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

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  • Mummy of Two January 16, 2014 at 11:11 am

    Wow you really do have some amazing places to visit nearby don’t you?!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:10 pm

      There do seem to be a lot of places to go within about 15 minutes drive of home ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Hellie's Corner January 16, 2014 at 11:21 am

    It looks like a great place to visit, great photos as well. Nothing better when your little, than squeltching in your wellies, quiet good fun when your big as well!!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      Thank you very much – we love a bit of squelching!

  • WallyMummy January 16, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Gorgeous, we have the sea here, but I grew up surrounded by woodland and I miss it! There;s here lovely coat again too! lol xx

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      There’s something rather wonderful about the woodland isn’t there. How fabulous to be by the sea ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Michelle January 16, 2014 at 11:31 am

    Wow, the trees do look magical! What a lovely place to visit!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:29 pm

      Thank you Michelle – great place. Wish we’d been able to stay longer ๐Ÿ™‚

  • natalie January 16, 2014 at 11:34 am

    Looks beautiful, lucky she had those wellies on.

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:31 pm

      It was super wet – hardly surprising after all the rain. Wonderful though ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Iona@redpeffer January 16, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Lovely photo’s as ever-especially the trees. You know how much I love my trees ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you very much – thought you’d like this one ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Amanda January 16, 2014 at 11:38 am

    Oh I love trees, and it looks like you found some real beauties ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:39 pm

      Thank you Amanda – they were fabulous. Such a shame we couldn’t stay longer ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Laura @ Kneadwhine January 16, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Oh Charley, your photos are always amazing.

    Also, I really love POD’s coat – wonder if it’s available for 31 year olds?

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:42 pm

      Oh thank you so much, that’s very kind. POD’s coat is from Monsoon so you never know ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Gemma Garner January 16, 2014 at 11:59 am

    Love the colour of all that moss. Looks like a lovely place and I’m glad the rain managed to hold off for most of your visit. The orange heathland is really beautiful, great photos as always ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:46 pm

      Thank you Gemma – it was great there. Such a contrast with the different landscapes too. Be so lovely to spend more time having a nose around ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Abby Boid January 16, 2014 at 12:06 pm

    Those trees – wondrous. Love a day trip and this looks a fab one.

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 1:52 pm

      Thank you Abby – they were superb ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Claudia January 16, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    those moss covered trees!!! love. and her coat… beautiful

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you Claudia – fabulous trees and new coat ๐Ÿ™‚

  • hannah staveley January 16, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    Loving the slide show , need to get out and about more just the weather is so poor .x

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:30 pm

      Thank you Hannah. We have so little time so do try at the weekend or Monday – if it’s raining it’s so much harder ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Fritha Strickland January 16, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    aww lovely pics! this is the sort of thing we love to do too! x

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:31 pm

      Thank you Fritha – so nice to do when you can. Fresh air works wonders ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Laura Halls January 16, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    gorgeous I ove the pic of the girl walking away

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:31 pm

      Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Mammasaurus January 16, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    You cannot beat mossy trees! Lovely photos as always.

    I nearly ventured out to a National Trust place the other morning but the heavens opened and I chickened out. Hopefully I’ll get there this week – you should be in charge of their blogger PR, you are always there and singing their praises!

    Thanks for joining in again and sharing xxx

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:33 pm

      Thank you Annie and for hosting. We were so close to getting really drenched the other day. I do love the National Trust, I’d be quite happy exploring, taking photos and reviewing :))

  • Mum of One January 16, 2014 at 4:42 pm

    What amazing looking trees. I would be waiting for a mouth to appear and utter some ancient words of wisdom at me LOL.

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:37 pm

      Hehe very funny – it almost felt like that. Amazing trees though ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Kathleen January 16, 2014 at 5:30 pm

    Those trees are fantastic! My girls would’ve loved bouncing around those mud puddles too – which is all we see lately. It looks like a wonderful place, and I bet the birds make it even better!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:40 pm

      It’s a really great place Kathleen, wish we could have stayed longer and walked further. I can’t wait to have a proper nose around and see it in Spring time ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Aisha from expatlog January 16, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    Ooooh take me with you next time!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:40 pm

      Hehe it’s great isn’t it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jenni January 16, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    So many beautiful photos, I’m amazed at how vibrant the green looks in these at this time of year. Very lush!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:47 pm

      Thank you Jenni – very kind! It’s amazing all the lush green, presume from all that rain ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Lori January 16, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    I love the ancient trees and descriptions of burnt orange heathlands, sounds like a great day exploring. Perfect to entertain little ones x

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:49 pm

      Thank you Lori – they’re fabulous trees ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Vicky January 16, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    What a wonderful vicharious thrill! I used to love walking through the woods – but it’s something I just can’t do anymore. Getting to follow your little cherub is just he icing on the cake ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you so much Vicky, a wonderful thing to say ๐Ÿ™‚

  • TwinsplusTwo January 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Some fabulous photos. The country girl in me is desperate to find some new places to explore, town life is v convenient but I miss the wide open spaces!

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      Thank you. I know that feeling we did 20 years in London before we moved to Surrey ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Emma (My Little 3 and Me) January 16, 2014 at 10:11 pm

    This looks so pretty and your photos are gorgeous. I just love the colour of your little girls coat against the greens.

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you Emma, that’s really kind of you. POD is loving her new coat ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Kirsty January 16, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    I LOVE places like this. Bizarrely I always link moss with magic! When there is lovely, spongey moss on the ground, I imagine it must have been like this for thousands of years.

    • Charly Dove January 16, 2014 at 10:25 pm

      It’s funny isn’t it – really did feel like a magical wonderland that had been there forever! I like that idea, as well as the trees coming to life at night ๐Ÿ™‚

  • charmaine January 16, 2014 at 11:16 pm

    oh that looks like such a gorgeous place to visitโ€ฆ those algae covered trees are amazing! x

  • older mum in a muddle January 17, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    Those trees are amazing. Even before I read your words, I thought how fairy tale they looked, and Pod has her lovely new purple coat on! X

  • Louisa January 17, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    Such wonderful pictures and your words really paint a vivid picture

  • Sara (@mumturnedmom) January 18, 2014 at 12:38 am

    Loving the purple coat ๐Ÿ™‚ Those squat trees are fabulous! Lovely photos as always xx #CountryKids

  • Coombemill January 18, 2014 at 1:02 am

    Sounds like you were unlucky to have to cut your visit short, a beautiful read and matching photos. I love the way Pod busies herself with the sticks and puzzles while you admire the wider landscape. Harmony together! Thanks for joining me with another great Surry surprise on Country Kids

  • TheBoyandMe January 18, 2014 at 2:05 am

    Oh that’s a bit more rural than you normally go for, I know you like your NT places and gardens. Wonderful colours on the tress and Pod looks fab exploring in her pretty coat.

    Nipping over from Country Kids

  • Mama H January 18, 2014 at 6:32 am

    We gave up NT Membership in favour of EH this year but I’m missing it already. Looks like you had a great trip out.

    #countrykids

  • Kriss MacDonald January 18, 2014 at 6:53 am

    I adore your photos of the mossy trees. Another wonderful NT location worth a visit.

  • The Reading Residence January 18, 2014 at 8:25 am

    Gorgeous photos, and I do love those tree shots. Looks like a successful exploratory trip ๐Ÿ™‚ #CountryKids

  • Mumof2.com January 18, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Loving that stunning photo of the tree!!! We love the National Trust too, although after joining discovered there aren’t as many really close by but we still go and have a great time. #CountryKids

  • Emma January 18, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    That looks beautiful! We love the National Trust. x

  • Fiona Martin January 18, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    Some amazing trees there, what a great place to go.

  • Dean January 18, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    Love old trees too, especially the weirder it looks ๐Ÿ™‚

  • LauraCYMFT January 18, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    I love those trees. So fascinating to see all the nooks and cranies and branches on a tree.

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  • Karen Bell January 18, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    Lovely photos, the trees look amazing! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • sarah January 18, 2014 at 10:17 pm

    beautiful!! xx

  • Kim Carberry January 19, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Wow! That looks a fab place to visit! Such beautiful scenery x

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    […] We’re lucky we have so many National Trust sites so close to us. Recently we’ve checked outย Abinger Roughs, Clandon Parkย andย Witley & Milford Commons. […]

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    […] explore varied landscapes like the Majestic Commonsย tooย – some of the oldest trees I’ve ever seen. We did have to make a run for it when the […]