Walk: Denbies Hillside
Explore the dramatic chalk escarpment of Denbies Hillside on this self guided walk from The National Trust, which owns the land...
Denbies Hillside Nature Trail
Distance: 2 miles /3.2km
Average time: Two hours
Terrain: Fairly steep slope on return
Maps: OS Explorer 146 and The National Trust Denbies Hillside guide leaflet
Start: Denbies Hillside car park off Ranmore Common road grid reference TQ142503
Public transport: Buses 21, 22, 32, 533. Trains to Dorking West 1.5 miles from Denbies Hillside
Refreshments: Denbies Wine Estate, London Road, Dorking; Polesden Lacey, Great Bookham; The Running Horses pub, Old London Road, Mickleham; Stepping Stones pub and restaurant, Westhumble Street, Westhumble
1. From the pay and display car park, proceed south, through the marked opening into 'Steers Field'.
Denbies Hillside is named after John Denby, the first known farmer of the area back in the 1600s. This is a great place to have a picnic and enjoy the stunning views. To your left is the town of Dorking. Across the valley are the heights of Leith Hill and further west, Holmbury Hill. The long grass in this field is much loved by butterflies and grasshoppers, listen carefully during the summer months and you may hear the grasshoppers 'stridulating'.
2. Following the waymarking, turn left.
As you venture along the chalk downland, you may see animals grazing. Ponies and cattle used to graze the species rich chalk grassland. The animals help to nibble down the woody regrowth and prevent scrubby thorn trees from invading the grassland.
Many species of orchid grow among the chalk grassland, some species such as bee and fly orchids are so called because they mimic the insects they wish to attract for pollination to take place.
Follow the waymarking through the gates and into the woodland.
As you walk along the track, you will see a number of evergreen trees, yew, box and juniper. These native trees thrive on the chalk soil. Look out for the giant redwood to your left as you descend the hill. The redwood, which is native to California, has soft fibrous bark, which is resistant to fire. It was planted during Victorian times.
3. As you reach the bottom of the wooded slope, turn right onto the Carriage Road.
This popular track was once the access for Denbies House, owned by the Ashcombe Family. The family would ride their horse and carriage along the track down to the village of Westcott. The track passes through Landbarn Farm which is now owned by the National Trust.
Geology:
As you walk down the Carriage Road, notice the banksides to your right. The exposed chalk beneath the yew trees was laid down under warm tropical seas 60 to 100 million years ago.
The chalk contains fossils known as echinoids. These are one of the most common fossils to be found in, or near the surface of the chalk. They are similar to sea urchins.
Nodules of flint are also found in the chalk.
Continue along the Carriage Road. This fine track has species-rich flower banks, kept free from scrub and is fringed with yew trees and remnants of Victorian plantings. Down in the valley to your left is the Redhill to Reading railway line, opened in 1849.
Today vines are grown on the chalk soil of Denbies Wine Estate (not National Trust) North of Dorking. The National Trust manage much of the former estate for landscape, nature conservation and public access.
4. Still on the Carriage Road, the enclosure on your right is the Pony Corral. This is used to contain the hardy Exmoor Ponies when they need to be checked. The ponies can cope with the coarse grasses and thorn trees. Look out for birds such as white throat as you walk along.
Continue down the Carriage Road, turning right at the bend. Walk along to the woodland and turn right up the slope.
5. You are now entering the Big Field. You will see much scrub here – dogwood, hawthorn, dog rose, whitebeam and blackthorn. All add colour in their season to the downland scene.
Continue the steady climb upward along the south facing scarp slope. This is another good place to rest and enjoy the views. Exmoor ponies graze this field. They have an enormous appetite for grass. Green woodpeckers feed on ants. Look out for the hovering kestrel – these hawks keep still in mid air while searching for prey.
This path through the field is known as Fox Lane and leads to the Fox Inn which is now a private residence. Foxes can often be seen in this area.
6. At the top of the field, pass through the gate and join the North Downs Way, the long distance national trail which would take you to Dover in the east or Farnham in the west.
When you see the Ranmore church spire you have not got far to go.
Walk back across the picnic field to the car park.
Pick up a copy of The National Trust's Denbies Hillside Property & Nature Trail Guide leaflet, from which these walking instructions have been taken, from Denbies Hillside car park at the start and log on to www.nationaltrust.org.uk for more information about Denbies Hillside.
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