Enjoy the chalk downland, views across the Weald to the South Downs and admire Reigate Fort and the Inglis Memorial on the North Downs Ridge Circular Walk from the Downlands Countryside Project

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Distance: 7 miles / 11km

Average time: Three hours

Terrain: Mostly fairly level but part runs down the steep slope of North Downs, some steep steps, chalk paths can be slippery. Not suitable for wheelchairs and buggies

Maps: OS maps Explorer 146, Landranger 187

Start: Wray Lane car park, Reigate Hill, TQ 263523. Car users can also start at Margery Lane car park, TQ 246527.

Parking: Wary Lane and Margery Lane car parks

Public transport: Buses 420 and 460 stop at Reigate Hill

Refreshments: Cafe at Wray Lane car park, on route you can divert to The Sportsman pub, Mogador (point 4) and The Yew Tree pub, Reigate Hill (point 9)

Public toilets: Wray Lane car park

Scenic: View David Berman's timelapse video of the Inglis Memorial above.

Instructions:

1. The first part of this walk follows the main Millennium Trail so follow the blue waymarks.

From the car park, follow the path to the left of the refreshment kiosk and carry on over the bridge across the A217.

Carry straight on until the path meets Fort Lane, and then go straight on following the road onto a path, passing Reigate Fort on your left.

Overlooking Reigate and Redhill, Reigate Fort was one of 13 mobilisation centres built between 1890 and 1903 in a defensive line that stretched along the North Downs for 72 miles. Their purpose was to protect London from invasion, although none of them saw action.

The Fort was used as an ammunition store during the First World War and Canadian troops were stationed there during Second World War. Reigate Fort has been looked after by the National Trust since 1932 and was fully restored in 2000.

2. Continue straight on through woodland until you reach a gate leading to open downland. Go through the gate and straight on, past the Inglis Memorial on your left.

The striking Inglis Memorial with its beautiful cobalt and gold ceiling depicting an astronomer's view of the heavens, was originally built as a drinking fountain for the horses that passed along the original route to the top of Reigate Hill.

Lieutenant Colonel Inglis donated this building to the Borough in 1909.

Enjoy views of Colley Hill to the West, with the South Downs on the far horizon.

3. You leave the main Millennium Trail here, so follow the orange circular walk waymarks now.

Carry straight on along the top of Reigate Hill and shortly after passing the Sutton District Water Company tower among the trees on your right; go through a gate on your right into woodland, and along the footbridge over the M25.

Look out for the Wild Cherry trees that grow here, characterised by horizontal rings on their bronze-coloured, papery bark. The blossom is a delight in spring, and their fruits have an intense, although tart, flavour.

4. Carry straight on along the path in the woodland until you reach the Margery Wood car park (this is an alternative start point to the walk for car users).

At the exit to the car park, turn left and then immediately left again onto a bridleway.

At the first road, go straight on along the bridleway, with a house to your right. At the next road turn left. Take a diversion here to visit The Sportsman pub.

5. Carry on along the road and over a bridge crossing the M25.

Ignore minor roads to your left and right and carry straight on along the road, passing two white coal tax posts on your left.

Ignore cross paths and at the end of the road (next to another coal tax post), carry on down a very steep path for about a third of a mile.

6. Where a footpath crosses the path, go left and through the wooden barriers and follow this path as it contours along the side of the hill.

7. When you reach a flight of steps, carry straight on down the steps and follow the path round to the left and then the right. Cross a main path and continue straight on, ignoring small paths to the left and right and continuing to contour round the hill, with the steep slope to your left.

Woodland gives way to chalk grassland on your left and the magnificent slopes of Colley Hill come into view.

8. Ignore a path that leads off down the hill to your right and carry on following the path round the hill until you reach a road.

Carry straight on along the road until you reach a fork in the road. Bear left and continue straight on along a bridleway between two brick walls.

9. Carry straight on along this path until you reach a main road (the A217). The Yew Tree pub is a short distance along this road to the right.

Short cut: If you are short of time you can turn left here and then turn left up a steep and narrow bridleway. At the top of the hill turn right and this path will lead you back to Wray Lane car park.

10. Cross this busy road with care, turn left and walk uphill. After a short distance take the bridleway to the right (signed to Wray Lane). Carry straight on for about a third of a mile as the path contours around the hill, past fields and through woodland.

Badgers, foxes and rabbits use this bridleway, as well as walkers. Look for the holes and paths they have made on the steep ivy-covered slopes.

11. Continue, following the path straight on between two fences and past houses on the left. Where the path turns into a road, carry straight on then shortly bear right down a path between the houses and follow this path until you come out onto a road (Wray Lane).

12. Cross the road and enter Gatton Park. Take the path uphill, up a flight of steps, then turn right and go downhill on a bridleway. Ignore paths to the left and right and carry straight on round and down the hill.

At the bottom of the hill there are two gates, go through the right hand gate and turn left onto a track. Carry on along the track, through parkland and go past a metal gate.

Here you can still see some of the features created by landscape designer Capability Brown for the Gatton Estate more than 200 years ago.

13. Where the track joins a road, turn left and follow the road. When you are near the main road, turn left before a house and rejoin the main Millennium Trail.

Look for a modern landscape feature on your left, near the metal gate – the stone circle was created to commemorate the Millennium, each stone representing a 200-year period.

14. Follow the path steeply uphill. Where the path forks, follow the right hand path and continue uphill until you reach the top.

Carry straight on towards the car park, crossing a minor road (Wray Lane). When you enter the car park, you have returned to the start of the walk.

Click on the map to expand for more detail.

Leaflets with self-guided instructions for this walk are available from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council Town Hall reception in Reigate or by calling the Old Surrey Downs Project office on 01737 733933.

Photos and timelapse video of the Inglis Memorial by David Berman