Guildford to Dorking walking guide

The only tricky bit is getting to the NDW. Leave Guildford station by the exit nearest Platform 2 marked "To town centre". Using the underpass, follow the blue signs "Town centre via Riverside Walk".

Turn right at the river to the White House pub. Follow the path around it. Cross the pedestrian bridge at Millmead Lock and turn right before the second bridge on to the towpath. Opposite Guildford Boat House, cross the meadow diagonally right and continue right along the towpath. Cross at the next bridge to the opposite bank.

From now on, follow the "North Downs Way" signs marked with an acorn, the symbol of the National Trail.

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Cross the meadows over the playing fields. Cross the A281 to Pilgrims' Way. Veer right at the junction with Echo Pit Road, passing Chantry Cottage on your right. Follow an uphill track through the woods. At Halfpenny Lane, turn left then right at Southern Cottage. The route is straight uphill to St Martha's Church, originally Norman; enjoy the fine views from one of the benches.

Follow the NDW downhill to White Lane, going left at Keeper's Cottage, and uphill to cross the lane to Albury Downs and on to Newlands Corner. In 1926, novelist Agatha Christie staged her own 10-day disappearance here. There's a countryside centre and, across the road, at the Barn Restaurant & Coffee Shop, you'll find great food. Leave the Barn, turning left on to the NDW into dense woodland.

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Cross Staple Lane and at the next tarmac lane turn right then left to Hollister Farm. Here, there is a bridleway signed to Shere, Surrey's prettiest village, packed with Lutyens-style buildings and 16th-century cottages. It's about 20 minutes away.

Continue on to a junction of five tracks with a large concrete bowl to your left. After passing a "Little King's Wood" sign on the right, turn right following the NDW sign to emerge on Blatchford Down. At the next tarmac lane, go right and immediately left and on through woodland to Steer's Field (National Trust) and Ranmore Common. Along this section, you'll pass WWII pillboxes.

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Cross Steer's Field, aiming to the right of the church steeple. Emerge to cross a road, keeping the white house on your left. Pass St Barnabas church, built by Sir George Gilbert Scott. After North Lodge, turn right then left to enter Denbies Wine Estate.

After the second green gates, the Visitor Centre and B&B Farmhouse come into view. To get there, take the first right on to a bridleway (the views beyond are to Box Hill. The Servery has teas and cakes all day. If you have time, the winery tour with tasting is well worth taking.

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To reach Dorking station, leave Denbies by the car exit, go right at the roundabout and follow the pavement beside the A24 to Dorking station—about 20 minutes.

Alternatively, return to the B&B farmhouse, go left along the wide track and through the gate at the end. Turn left at the signs, on to a residential road, go left downhill and take the first right, emerging above the underpass to Dorking station. 

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