If you are looking for a varied walk in the Surrey area, then the Mole Gap trail is a pretty and fairly easy one. It will take around 3 hours (but allow longer for taking pictures, stopping for lunch etc), and follows the river Mole all the way to Dorking.

Once at Dorking you could also try the two short heritage walks around the town.

Walk start point: Leatherhead train station
Walk end point: Dorking stations
Length: 6 miles

The Mole Gap trail will take you along the river Mole, through fields, woodland, nature reserves, views over the rolling hills, through a vineyard and quiet villages.

Mole Gap Trail: How to get to the Starting point

This walk starts at Leatherhead train station.

By train: Leatherhead is on the South Western Railway line and takes 42 minutes direct from London Waterloo train station.

By bus: the 465 and 479 buses stop close to Leatherhead station. If you arrive by bus, get off at North Street and follow the instructions from the War memorial in Leatherhead town centre.

Mole Gap Trail Directions

1. Along the Mole Gap trail you will spot small silver arrows on various signposts, to help guide you along the way. Start from the exit by platform 2 at Leatherhead station. Turn right and walk along, crossing the road to Leatherhead Park opposite.
2. Walk along the diagonal path across the park, coming out onto Station Road (A245). Turn left towards the town centre. You will pass Lidl on your right (walk straight on). The road into the town will bend to the right, just before the bend you will see the War Memorial on your left.
3. Follow the road to the right, and the continue along the road, again to the right (not to the left where the high street shops are, unless you want a little stop off to buy snacks of course!). There is also a coffee shop you will pass called Charlie & Ginger, and they do high quality and delicious coffee- so defo worth a stop- start the walk the right way haha.
4. The road will come out of the town, and you will see the Running Horse pub on your right. Carry on straight ahead over the small bridge and take the first left onto the small path that runs alongside the river. This is a lovely little spot to sit and enjoy your coffee if you don’t want to walk with it!

   

5. Continue along this path, which will go past a football pitch and comes out at a small road with a bridge. Turn right along the road (you will see a wooden fence running along the left).
6. Just ahead you will see the entrance to Thorncroft Manor. Just past this, turn left onto a path through a silver gate. Continue through the field, to another gate.
7. Continue straight ahead alongside the pretty path by the river, which goes under a bridge.
8. You will eventually see another gate, go through this into Norbury Park and follow the path across the field, which eventually bends to the right. This joins another track, just follow it along (you will see a large gate and a smaller gate side by side).
9. Continue straight ahead until you see a house in front of you (it might be just behind some trees). Then turn right through another gate, to take the path uphill. This will go under the railway.

   

10. Just past this you will see a path to the left which goes uphill and is a little steep. It is a small path but quite well defined so you will notice it.
11. At the top of the path, it comes out onto a road. Follow this road slightly to the left and downhill. After a while it opens up on the left and you will see views of the rolling hills and houses in the distance. There are a couple of wooden benches on the right and a grassy path going uphill in-between. Take this path.
12. Once up the grassy path, cross over the small road, and continue straight ahead to a path into the woods.
    There will be a tiny (slightly overgrown) path straight away on the left, go past this and then past the second path on the left, before taking the third path to the left.
13. It will lead to a small open section of grass with a couple of wooden picnic benches. This is a good place to stop for a snack if you have brought your own food/lunch.

    

14. Continue straight through, past the benches and onto the grassy track ahead, in between the farmland. Once at the farm, continue along the public footpath (there is nowhere to really get lost as all other paths are marked private).
15. The path will cross a small bridge and will bend around to the left, past some more farmland (this had some cows in when I walked past). You will see some more farm buildings ahead of you. Turn right, following the public footpath sign.
16. This will lead to a gate, which crosses a grass field, towards another couple of gates. After the third gate, take the path to the right, which leads to a metal foot bridge which crosses over the river (next to a brick bridge).
    Once crossed, continue straight ahead over some grass, and onto the road.
17. Cross over Chapel Lane and follow the road which bends slightly to the left. Soon after you will see a public footpath sign to the left. Take this narrow path in between the fence and backs of the houses. Keep an eye out for this path as it may be easy to miss.
18. You will come out at a pretty little road, cross over and continue straight through a gate. This will lead to another couple of gates. Continue straight onto another path which leads through to the vineyards.

    

19. Stay straight on over the small road crossing the vineyard and continue uphill in between more vineyards.
20. Keep in mind this section is quite open, so if going on a hot summer’s day, bring lots of sunscreen and water!
    This path goes on for quite a while and will eventually bend around to the right. Do not turn right but continue straight ahead along the grassy public footpath.

    

21. You will see a gate and a shaded path to the right. Go through the gate and uphill on the path. This leads out to a wooden signpost with directions to the Dorking stations to the left or the Dorking town centre (straight on). I followed the signs to the town but ended up coming out near the stations for some reason! Either way the station isn’t too far from the town!

    

    

Hopefully you managed to follow along with the Mole Gap trail and didn’t get lost. Once at Dorking you can also do the heritage trails, which give a brief overview of the town. Dorking is a lovely town to explore or grab a coffee or pub lunch.

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Cave Dale is a little hidden gem, situated in the popular village of Castleton in the Peak District. With several hikes and walks accessible from the village this is a wonderful place to stay for your Peak District adventure.

The Cave Dale walk is fairly easy, which gradually slopes uphill and then back down over some grassy fields. The first part however is very rocky, so do watch your step, as the stones can be slippery when wet.

Type of Walk: Circular
Distance: 2 miles (3.3 km)
Walking time: 1.5 to 2 hours

Where to start the Cave Dale Walk

You can start the walk from the pretty village of Castleton. The visitor centre has a café and public toilets, and the village also has many cafes and pubs to grab a bite either before or after your walk. Be sure to bring along some water and a snack too.

Getting to Castleton:

Car: There is a car park at the visitor centre and also at Peak Cavern car park. These can fill up quick so try and get there early. There is some free parking along the main road on weekdays, with paid parking on weekends.

Train: The closest train station to Castleton is Hope (Derbyshire). Most trains will start from Manchester or Sheffield. It will take you 45 minutes to walk from Hope station to Castleton, or you can get the 272 bus from the end of station road, into the village (journey time around 5 mins).

Bus: The 173, 271 or 272 buses all stop in Castleton, running to and from Bakewell or Sheffield.

Let’s Begin the Cave Dale Circular Walk

1. Start at the Castleton visitor centre and turn left onto the main road through the village. Keep walking, past the Bulls Head pub (which will be on your left).
2. Just as the main road starts to bend around to the left (by Ye Old Nags Head pub), turn right onto Back St (there signs for Cave Dale and Peveril Castle).
3. Keep walking until you reach a small square with a war memorial in the middle. Keep left of the middle section and continue on Back St as it curves around to the left and turns into Bargate street.
4. Just after the turn, you will see a brown sign on your left pointing towards the Cave Dale entrance. Turn right at the sign, it will take you through a small path between two sets of houses, so keep an eye out, as it is not immediately obvious.
5. This will lead to the entrance where there will be a sign and some interesting information about Cave Dale. Go through the gate and walk upwards on the rocky track. The scenery here is stunning, with giant rocks towering above you and green grassy hills on either side.

   

   

6. Be careful with your step here as the rocks can be slippery when wet and the path uneven. Continue along, taking in views of Peveril Castle on your right. Soon there will be a boundary wall on your right side, keep walking alongside this until you see a gate in the wall. Turn right through this gate and continue through the fields for a short while.
7. You will eventually come to a signpost indicating the various footpaths. I took the one to the right, which almost goes back in the direction you have just come from. This will then bend around to the left and lead onto a grassy hill with a stoned boundary wall.
8. Continue waking down this field until you reach a wall with some steps you will need to climb over. You will see the rolling hills in the background, with a view of Castleton village from above. Keep walking downhill to the tree line.
9. I have a feeling I came out too far here as I walked right up to the tree line, before turning left down the side of the field. This was a quite steep path. I believe I should have turned left a little before the tree line, so the path is less steep, but either way it leads to the same place.
10. It will eventually lead onto a small track. Turn right and you will see a metal gate. Go through the gate and downwards until you come out onto Goosehill Road. Follow this down, as it slowly bends to the right over a small bridge.
11. Go across the bridge and follow the road around to the left. Keep to the left and turn on to the first path to your left, which will take you to a pretty stream. Then just follow this path alongside the stream to get back to the visitor centre.

    

    

     

I hope you enjoyed this walk, a perfect way to fill a morning or afternoon! Be sure to stop at the Three Roofs Cafe for delicious cake afterwards!

If you are looking for a longer walk you can do straight from Castleton, then try the Winnats Pass and Mam Tor hike.

Winkworth Arboretum was founded by Dr Wilfred Fox, in the early 20th century, and covers 95 hectares. The garden has been set up for those beautiful Autumn colours, with all kinds of red, orange, yellow and brown leaves making a striking impact.

In 1938, Dr Fox planted more than 1000 species of trees, to create his own unique landscape. The garden has now been given the nickname the ‘museum of trees’.

There are 3 set walks you can follow through Winkworth Arboretum, using the map they give you at the counter. These are each at a different level of difficulty, the hardest one goes up a couple of steep hills, but it is still manageable for most people and doesn’t take too long. You can easily spend a few hours here though, taking a leisurely stroll and admiring the trees or stopping to take pictures.

There are several viewpoints at Winkworth Arboretum, where you can really appreciate the beauty of this place. These are situated by the Magnolia Wood, the hill above the Azalea Steps, the Eastern Meadow, and the view from the Boathouse by the lake. Seeing the purple, gold, and crimson colours with the green rolling hills in the background just gives you those Autumn vibes!

Types of trees you can see at Winkworth:

• Maple trees
• Japanese maple groves
• Liquidambar
• Tulip trees
• Hickory trees
• Larch trees
• Dawn redwood

The central feature is the boathouse by the lake, which has actually been used as a TV set for several series and films. From here you can enjoy the peacefulness and beautiful views, especially with the Autumn colours reflecting in the lake.

When is the best time to visit Winkworth Arboretum?

Autumn is considered one of the best times to visit Winkworth Arboretum, as many trees were planted with this season in mind. Mid-October to mid-November is the peak of Autumn. However, this is one of those places that looks beautiful all year round.

Spring is also delightful with the pretty bluebells, rhododendrons, magnolias, daffodils, cherry blossoms, and azaleas. In summer everything is green and vibrant, with the dogwoods in flower. In winter you can see the holy bushes with bright red berries and take a stroll around the winter garden.

How much is it to visit Winkworth Arboretum?

As it is a National Trust property, there is a charge to get in, but it is free for National Trust members.

The price in April 2022 is £11 for an adult, £5.50 for a child and £27.50 for a family ticket. In my opinion £11 was a bit steep, but if you regularly visit National Trust properties, it’s worth getting the yearly membership, which includes free parking too.

Opening times are 10am to 5pm in the summer months and 10am to 4pm in the winter months, although the last entry is 3pm. The tearoom will close 30 min to 1 hour before closing.

Also, I didn’t realise before, but there is also a free public footpath that goes through Winkworth Arboretum. You have to stick to the path so I am not sure how much you will be able to see but could be a good option if you are looking for a more budget option.

Check the official website for the updated times and prices. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winkworth-arboretum
Getting to Winkworth Arboretum

Train: I came via public transport and the closest train station was Godalming, which is around an hour’s walk to Winkworth. However, the walk there was almost just as pretty as the place itself! It goes through public footpaths, some sections on the road (although a pretty road under a canopy of trees), and through a stunning Juniper Forest.

Bus: the 42 bus stops outside Winkworth Arboretum and passes back through Godalming and onto Guildford. Check the times before you leave as they may not come too frequently.

Bear in mind that the buses do not run on a Sunday (which I found out the hard way and had to walk back to the station in the rain!). You could also call a cab but make sure you have data, as my Wi-Fi cut out and I couldn’t get a signal.

Car: Winkworth is situated on the B2130 road. If you do have access to a car, this would be the easiest option as the arboretum is in a quiet village, and the road outside does not have pavement.

Thanks for reading this post, and I hope you enjoy your visit in whichever season you choose!

Here are some more walks around the world to try:

• Bakewell to Chatsworth House Walk (with photos)
• Walk with the San Bushmen People in Botswana
• 9 Best Walking Tracks in Brisbane
• Walking the Brooklyn Bridge, NYC

The picturesque village of Castleton in the Peak District is one of the most popular places with walkers, looking to make the most of the surrounding walking routes and spectacular scenery. Castleton is a quiet little haven, away from the hustle and bustle.

The closest train station to Castleton is Hope (Derbyshire), which is a 45-minute walk or 5 minutes on the bus. You can get to Hope within half an hour from Sheffield train station, so would make a great day trip if staying in the city.
Away from the crowds (although do expect plenty of tourists during peak months), this quaint little village is a delight to explore. From the pretty stream, stunning walks, and cosy pubs. Here are just a few of the things you can do straight from Castleton.

Visit Peveril Castle

Peveril Castle is one of the oldest Norman fortresses in England and sits high above the village of Castleton. You can reach the castle by turning off the main street, past the George pub, where you will see a sign for the castle, just right off the little square with the war memorial.

You need to pay £6.90 (2022 price) to get in, which in my opinion is a little steep for what it is, but I didn’t mind too much as I was there on a weekend trip. I thought you would be able to walk inside the castle, but it only really takes you to one room, with a small window.

However, the views from the outside of the castle, and also of the valley below were gorgeous and made up for the inside! This is a nice little thing to do if you are short for time.

Climb Winnats Pass

Winnats Pass is short for ‘Windy Gates’ as it’s a windy entrance into the village. The pass actually used to sit under the ocean and evidence of this can be seen in fossils that are over 350 million years old.

This limestone valley was created by glaciers which melted and caused water to flow through, wearing away the rocks. An underground cave collapsed here which is why one side is a now a steep rockface. You can visit the Speedwell cavern, which sits at the bottom of Winnats Pass, where you can still see evidence of the mining system that was in place here during the 18th century.

There is also a myth that the pass is haunted by a couple named Alan and Clara who were murdered by miners here in 1758. The two were lovers who wanted to get married but their families disapproved as Alan was from a less wealthy family. They gathered their possessions ran away together to elope, staying in the village of Castleton.
One night they went for a ride on their horses when they were stopped by a group of miners who robbed them of their possessions, taking £200 the couple were carrying in savings (that’s worth £35,000 in today’s money!). The miners then murdered them and hid their bodies in the caves, which were discovered ten years later. The pass is said to be haunted by their screams.

It then seems like karma came around in the end as all the minors turned out to have some misfortune after that night. One went mad, another fell from the cliff face, another miner was hit by a falling rock, one took his own life, and the other one used the money to buy horses which didn’t end up being a good buy and he ended up being a poor man, who eventually confessed on his death bed.

The couple are now buried in St Edmund’s Church, Castleton, and the saddle supposedly used by the couple is on display at the Speedwell Cavern Museum.

You can take a stunning hike, either through Winnats Pass or over it. The latter is very steep but the views at the top are incredible. Be careful when climbing as there are no fences and vertical drops at the cliff face. Walking through the pass below still takes you on a steady incline but you’ll also be able to see how dramatic the pass is, with the huge limestone cliffs towering above you.

You can combine this hike with the Mam Tor walk as they are close together.

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Walk to the Mam Tor Summit

The Mam Tor hike is much less steep than Winnats Pass and the two walks can be combined together.
Mam Tor means ‘Mother Hill’ as it is the largest and tallest of the surround hills below it, sitting at 517m tall.

From the summit you will get views of Hope Valley, Edale, and Winnats Pass. Mam Tor is part of the dark peak area, which is made of gritstone. It is also nicknamed ‘the shivering mountain’ due to the many landslides that have occurred here over the years. You can see evidence of this from the old A625 road, which collapsed several years ago.

You can take a circular ridge walk here, which takes around 1-2 hours. The whole ridge goes from Mam Tor to Lose Hill and is around 2 miles (3km). The path is well paved and is easier than it looks from the bottom!
For photographers, sunrise, and sunset from the top of Mam Tor can provide some amazing photo ops. Make sure to dress warm as it can be freezing at the top!

Explore Peak Cavern

Close to Peveril Castle, the Peak Cavern (otherwise known as the devil’s arse) is the largest natural cave entrance in the British Isles.

You can book a guided walk through the different cave chambers where you can see the various rock formations and running water in the cave. They also hold events in the cave, like the Christmas concert- which I would imagine sounds incredible with the echoes of singing voices!

The price is a little steep at £16, so I didn’t go into this one, but it does look good and something a little bit different to do. There are also three other caves you can check out in this area including the Speedwell Cavern, Treak Cliff Cavern, and the Blue John Cavern.

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Try a Traditional Bakewell Pudding

I actually had no idea until I was planning my trip here that the nearby village of Bakewell is the home of the bakewell pudding. For anyone who doesn’t know, a bakewell pudding is a traditional English desert made with almonds, pastry, jam, and a custard like topping.

It was apparently created as a ‘happy accident’ by a local baker who mixed two recipes together. The bakewell tart came after this, another delicious variation. You can get a bus from Castleton to Bakewell to try one of these delicious deserts yourself. I can testify they are indeed delightful!

Bakewell itself is another pretty village, a little bigger than Castleton, so you can spend some time exploring the gift local shops, bakers, cafes, and pubs.

Visit Chatsworth House and Garden

Chatsworth House is around a 30-minute drive from Castleton (I took the bus to Bakewell, and then walked, or you can get a bus from Bakewell).

This is something I would absolutely recommend, particularly for those who love walking in lovely gardens, or who like art and history (the house is full of old rooms and works of art).

The Chatsworth gardens were just amazing, and there is literally so much to explore, from a huge kitchen garden to a beautiful smelling pine forest, a rock garden, maze, greenhouse, rose garden, arboretum, several ponds, and fountains and much more!

For the kids there is an awesome playground and farmyard for the little ones to explore. The price is quite a lot but if you love gardens then I doubt you will be disappointed as it was just so pretty! I went at the peak of Autumn and the colours of the trees were just gorgeous, although this place will look pretty at any time of year.

Take a Slow Morning in Castleton Village

I found the village of Castleton so nice to just go for a wander. It’s quite small but there are a few little gift shops around, and plenty of cafes and pubs for a quick bite. The Three Ducks café did delicious cakes, and the Castle pub had a lovely cosy décor and great food.

My favourite part of the village was the little steam, where a short path winds along beside it. I stood here for a while looking at the ducks fighting each other and the local dogs splashing around in the water. With the pretty Autumn leaves folding over the stream, it was a lovely little spot.

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Getting to Castleton

Car: There is a car park at the visitor centre, which fills up quickly, and another few dotted around the various walks. There are also some free spaces on weekdays along the main road going out of the village towards Winnats Pass. Get to a car park early to be sure of a spot.

Train: The closest train station to Castleton is Hope (Derbyshire). Most trains will come from Manchester or Sheffield. It will take around 45 mins to walk to Castleton, or you can get the 272 Sheffield’s Peak link bus from the end of station road, into Castleton village which takes around 5 minutes.

Bus: The 173, 271 or 272 buses all stop in Castleton, running from/ between Bakewell or Sheffield.

Where to stay in Castleton Village?

There are plenty of places to stay in Castleton from the pub accommodation to glamping, Airbnb, local farms, or hotels.

I stayed at a lovely local farm called Dunscar Farm. It is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the centre, so nice and quiet, with stunning views of Winnats Pass. It is a working farm, and the owners are the loveliest people, even picking me up from the station as I was a solo traveller!

They do a great full English breakfast each morning and will help you with anything. But really, anywhere you stay is sure to be great as you can’t seem to go anywhere without a view!

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After watching the movie, The Holiday, I had a sudden urge to explore the area where it was filmed! Luckily, the lovely little village of Shere in Surrey is close to where I live. The closet train station to Shere is Gomshall, which is around a 20-minute walk.

Now, I am no good at map reading and did get a little lost here and there, but I will provide two links to the different trails I went on. Hopefully, you will be able to follow the trails better than me!

Shere village is where you may have spotted Cameron Diaz and Jude Law walking around in the movie, and in fact one of the villages two pubs (The White Horse) was where one scene was filmed. Shere has also been seen in one of the Bridget Jones movies too!

Situated in between Guildford and Dorking, Shere is a small village with a pretty stream running through where you can see lots of ducks swimming about, there is also a pretty church, museum, a tearoom, and a couple of gift shops. If you are here on a Sunday, be sure to grab a delicious roast lunch from the pub, before or after your walk.

The area by the North Downs has lovely countryside around and is popular with walkers and cyclists.

The Silent Pool, Shere

After exploring the village, I wanted to see the Silent Pool, which is believed to be an old chalk quarry which was made from an underground spring.

I walked on the main road straight to the pool but have since found a much nicer looking route, which is just off the main road.

The pool is beautiful and the water crystal clear, you can see all the stones, underwater plants and fish underneath the water.

This is such a tranquil spot, it really does make you feel calm, and a wonderful place to sit and just admire nature. There is also a gin distillery here, where you can have a tour, or try some of the gin for yourself.

There is actually a rather spooky tale about this place. Long ago, the daughter of a woodcutter was bathing in the pool, when a man tried to lure her out. When she did not move, the man rode his horse into the pool, which forced her to swim out into the deeper water, where she then drowned. When the girl’s father, the woodcutter, found her body in the pool, he also found the hat the man was wearing. The crest of the hat stated that it belonged to Prince John.

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After taking some time by the water, I walked up the path next to the silent pool, which is a little steep but does not go on for too long. Once at the top, it came out into gorgeous woodland with huge pine trees either side of a well-defined path.

The path eventually came out to a small car park where there was a mobile coffee truck, mostly used by the many cyclists! I then made my way back down one of the paths back to Shere village. This is a pretty easy walk, so a good one to do with the family. Pretty much all the walks around here can be extended so there are always longer trails for those looking for more adventure.

Shere to Peaslake walk

After some lunch I wanted to do another walk down to Peaslake. This is where I did get a bit lost and most of my route to Peaslake was along a road (although some parts were on public footpaths through fields and wooded sections). Here is a link to a circular walk from Shere to Peaslake, which should take you on more attractive footpaths!

Also, once I arrived at Peaslake, I wanted to do this circular walk but as it was starting to get dark, I only managed half this walk. If you have the time, I would do the full walk as there is plenty to see here.

So, after getting lost I made it to the small village of Peaslake which is even smaller than Shere! But they did have an inviting looking pub! As I mentioned I started part of this walk, which begins just past the village pub and goes around the fields and farmland.

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I liked the variety of things to see in this area, from fields, animals, small footpaths, dense woodland, and quaint villages. If you can, spend the full day here to fit everything in, especially if going in the winter months when the light does not last.

There is plenty to do in this area, so I would advise to really look at the map beforehand to get a good grip of what you want to see- it makes a difference haha! Or you can just wander around like me, you never know what you will come across!

More beautiful walks:

• Best Walks in London: Hampstead
• Beautiful Walks in England: Dorchester on Thames
• Beautiful Walks in England: Rye, Sussex
• Best Walks in London: Hampstead