Circular walking guide from Horsley station

Turn right out of Horsley station and down the steps to cross Ockham Road North. Bear right and continue under the railway bridge, passing, on your right, a series of brick and flint buildings that were restored in the 1860s by the Earl of Lovelace.

After passing Glenesk School on your left, cross the road again at the junction to The Drift, opposite. Follow the yellow markers for Horsley Jubilee Trail uphill and through the woods, which will be filled with rhododendrons in May. Continue around the back of the houses in The Highlands, bearing left to follow a wide track that emerges further along The Drift.

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Turn right and right again over the railway bridge and take the third road on your left, Heath Way. Follow the road to the right and then take the bridleway on the left, turning immediately hard right along the edge of Effingham Common to the top right-hand corner of the common.

Cross the road diagonally right, continue along the bridleway, ignoring turns until you reach the information board to Great Ridings Wood on your left. Enter the woods, fork right in 50 metres at the first waymark, cross a bridge and follow the yellow markers to exit the woods by a gate at Orestan Lane. Cross diagonally left and follow yellow markers through Parrott’s Copse to emerge on Old London Lane. Go left to the end of the lane; the sign opposite reads Calvert Road. Bear right; this becomes Dirtham Lane to reach the A246 or Guildford Road. 

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Bear right and cross the road following the bridleway. Continue up the bridleway to a waymark where you turn right to reach Stony Dene Bridge after 30 metres. Turn left after the bridge. There is a short detour on your right, which will take you to the viewpoint at Lovelace’s Gothic-style, brick-and-flint Horsley Towers. Continue uphill, bear left and then right through the yew trees, past the Forestry Commission sign until you reach Crocknorth Farm.

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Follow the bridleway right, cross the road and continue under three Lovelace bridges to reach a road junction. Honeysuckle Bottom will be signed to your left.

Cross the road and take the bridleway opposite uphill to a three-way finger post. Follow the left-hand bridleway to the next finger post and go right. At the next junction, with no sign, head right downhill and right again at the next signpost following the yellow marker. This leads to Angel Clump, picnic tables and Millennium Viewpoint. Go down the grassy slope, and then goup the other side. Turn left and emerge at St Mary’s Church.

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The church is mostly 13th century with medieval wall paintings and is frequently open 10:00 to midday. Reputedly, Sir Walter Raleigh’s embalmed head is laid to rest in the side chapel.

Cross the A246, through the gate to the footpath opposite. Continue along the right hand field edge with the 17th-century West Horsley Place, the home of Lady Raleigh in her declining years, to your right. At the second hedgerow, head left to a junction of paths. Bear right following the sign to emerge by The Barley Mow pub, built in the 1500s.

Turn right passing several medieval houses, under the railway bridge and bear right up Lollesworth Lane passing Lollesworth Farm with its half-timber, half-brick, part-18th-century buildings.

Cross the railway bridge ahead and bear left to the village hall and emerge by the parade of shops. Horsley station is to your left.  

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