7 great walks in Surrey with kids

There is a good choice of of nice family walks in the Surrey Hills.  The best known is probably around Box Hill.

Box Hill is at the summit of the North Downs in Surrey. It’s terrific for walking and exploring and has plenty to offer kids: –

• A nature play trail (with climbing and balancing)
• Stepping stones
• Old WWII anti-tank cylinders on the Riverside Walk
• A pit stop at the café with great home-made cakes and ice-creams
• Super den-building and climbing trees
• Sweeping views of the Surrey Hills from the memorial viewpoint

Box Hill offers loads of opportunities for kids to walk and explore and is one of the more popular of the great walks in Surrey. Details of the trails, ranging from 2 to 8 miles, are available at the Shepherd’s Hut.  Watch out – some can be steep, and muddy!

You could try geocaching up the hill, but be warned – the ones we tried were cryptic and very tricky.

Virginia Water Lake is in the North of Surrey near to Great Windsor Park.  It has one of the best family walks in Surrey, as it has so much to stop and look at along the way: –

• An impressive totem pole (a gift to the queen in 1958)
• Replica Roman ruins – built in 1818
• An enchanting cascade waterfall (with viewpoint)
• Fantastic tree-climbing (in the rhododendrons en-route)
• Hide and seek in the Valley Gardens
• Amazing wildlife and nature – deer, ducks, herons and every breed of pet dog you can imagine

Children who are not keen on walking can take scooters or bikes, but be warned it does get busy.

The walk around the lake is about 4.5 miles, but you can extend this by walking through the Valley Gardens or up to Savill Garden, stopping at the playground along the way.

Of all the great walks in Surrey, this is our favourite.  For full details read our post, A visit to Virginia Water Lake, Surrey.

You can start this riverside walk at the car park on the towpath next to Thames Court Public House and continue walking up to Dumsey Meadow, which has been designated as a sight of Specific Scientific Interest.  The towpath makes a great family walk , as there is plenty for kids to keep children interested along the way.

What is there for kids to do?

• Watch the boats move through Shepperton Lock, which was first built in 1813
• Feed the ducks
• Take a trip across to Pharaoh’s Island
• Grab a ferry boat to Weybridge
• Look at the riverboat houses
• Wonder at the cows in the river
• Eat ice-cream

The walk is about 3 miles, but could be extended if you continue walking up the tow path.  Alternatively, you could start the walk at the other end and park by the small playground at Chertsey Meads.  There is plenty of wildlife along the way, especially Canada Geese.

The Tillingbourne Valley was dominated for hundreds of years by the manufacture of gunpowder. The remains of the mills are still here today.

If you follow the walk on this short heritage trail you can:

• Inspect the remains of the gunpowder mills (more than 100 buildings to explore)
• Paddle in the stream (bring your wellies)
• Delight in the wonderful nature
• Count the toads!
• Climb up St Martha’s Hill (with amazing views over 8 counties)

If you want to extend the walk you could take the steep ascent up St Martha’s Hill to the beautiful St Martha’s Church.

This is a circular walk from Cooper’s Green, which crosses the Runnymede meadows and follows through woodland to the River Thames.

• Step back in time at the 3 memorials John F Kennedy, Magna Carta and Runnymede Memorial
• Pay respect to the 20000 airmen and women who died during the 2nd WW
• Admire the new public artworks – “Writ in Water” and “The Jurors”
• Gaze for miles across London from the Runnymede Memorial
• Ramble along the River Thames
• Play in ancient woodland
• Touch the oldest tree in England

We always start the walk at The Barley Mow public house, which has a cricket green in front and small playground. This is great for refreshments on our return.  If you want more details on the route for this walk, read our blog A walk to historic Runnymede.

In addition, you could extend your walk and visit Ankerwycke where the colossal Yew tree is believed to be up to 2500 years old.

This Royal Park covering 1090 acres started as a royal hunting ground and has always been a family favourite of the great walks in Surrey, as there is so much to do.

This includes:-

• Look for the roaming herds of red and fallow deer (watch out when it’s rutting season)
• Go wild in the large playground – there are swings, see-saws and climbing frames
• Dig in the large sandpit – bring your bucket and spade
• Wander through the woodland gardens, marvelling at the nature and wildlife
• Enjoy a picnic
• Admire the cascade at the Upper Lodge Water Gardens
• See the Diana Fountain