Holmwood & Leith Hill, North Downs

The best day of the week was predicted early this week so Bertie and I set out to beat the early morning traffic. Back over to Dorking to-day, and starting just below the hill south of the town. We headed to Holmwood Common - an area of National trust woodland before the urban sprawl of the town. We parked in Inholms parking area just south of North Holmwood and headed down the main trail, passing the picnic area at the old cricket pitch.

Before picking up a path veering towards the dual carriageway (A24) which we followed beside for a few meters until spotting the footpath sign on the opposite side.

We then followed down the drive for Redlands farm and hence into the woods beyond.

The tracks throughout this wood had been reworked by cycle trails and soon varied from the marks on the map. We found one heading in the general direction we wanted - straight up the slope, luckily the undergrowth was not too fierce.

We met up with a vehicle track by the reservoir area, and followed this down to the road beyond.

Crossing the road and back into the woods, heading back uphill once more.

Coming out of the woods onto a concrete farm lane, before picking up the path continuing into brazing fields beyond.

A zigzag through horse pasture and farm tracks before rising once more into the woods of Squire's Great Wood.

Into more open country between fields ..  seeing a deer and fawn hiding in the grass.

Then back into the woods.

Dropping down once again, this time in a dark and muddy track which came out beside a large pond (Tilling spring - where Tilling Bourne starts) below a country residence.

We came out onto Whiteberry road (and Greensands way) - which we had walked down last time we were here at Leith Hill.

However very soon after joining we picked up a path that cut through the woods to Wotton Common. Uphill yet again, on this day of undulations.

There was forestry works going on in Wotton Common, as we followed the gentle rise now to the top of Leith hill. However nearly lost Bettie as he continued down the forestry track whilst I cut off on a footpath as they diverged. He soon came charging out of the bracken.

Leith Hill Tower grew out of the clearing at the top of the ridge.

unfortunately the view was still shrouded in morning mist.

Dropping down from the top to the great meeting of ways (where at least 7 paths meet) and findign the onward path we wanted relatively easy, and climbed up (again) into the woods.

At the top f this rise the landscape changed into more heathland. This is supposedly open access land, however after getting challenged by someone counting birds we had to divert - it was only later that I realised the path we were following had diverged away from where we had planed. Cutting around the heathland we picked up the path over Duke's Warren

Coming out at Whiteberry gate and a clear pond, then circling around and going back up to the heathland area again.

Cutting over towards Coldharbour as we got back on the higher ground.

After passing the coldharbour cricket pitch and car park, we followed the road down to the village.

On the way there was a seat with a view

The track came out opposite the pub, and continued down a narrow path between hedges passign the large mound of Anstiebury - but with no access.

Another muddy track through scrublands, and onto a farm track past Kitlands

Coming out onto Anstie lane

for a short whilebefore picking up Moorhurst Lane - an ancient bridleway.

The track changed into a concrete one, and then tarmacked as it picked up more houses as we approached Holmwood station 

Crossing over the railway lines, and then taking a track along side it and under the A24, passing through a new building site, where the path signs had been hidden.

Crossing over the railway lines on a foot crossing, and into a hedge line.

The path should cross this huge ploughed an planted field .... there was even a footpath sign in the middle of it. Discretion being the better [part here we followed the more used path around the side. Then up a concrete farm track through horse pasture.

Past the farm and pond before crossing Mill road and back into Holmwood common.

I had originally planned to explore a little more of the common on  the return, as we had only touched a small part on the way out. However I fell prey to the signposts rather than reading the map. I wanted to go to the "Lookout", rather than following the "Circular trail" up the Eastern side.

However either I missed a sign or it was pointing out the wrong track, but we started heading back south passed a number of houses.

Then we picked the signs up again and followed them to another house, where the obvious track had a sign, however this was not the most direct route, and we circled around past the old football pitch - which did give views over towards where we had been earlier in the morning.

Eventually the view point....  and another meeting of many paths.

Now we followed any path heading in the way we wanted - going north - once more the map and the ground were different mainly due to cycles making use of bush trails.

back at the van ..  time for relaxing and refreshments, before the drive back home.