Horsell Common: The Sandpit and McLaren Park
Surrey
Horsell Common is 748 acres of heathland, pine woodland and meadow on the northern edge of Woking, owned since 1966 by the Horsell Common Preservation Society. The heath is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area, where nightjar, Dartford warbler and woodlark breed, so dogs are asked to stay on the main paths from March to September. From the free Shores Road car park, the surfaced H.G. Wells path leads to the Sandpit, an old Bagshot sand working ringed by Scots pines with their roots exposed on the banks. This is where the Martians land in The War of the Worlds. From the far side, the broad Sandy Track and a perimeter track lead on to McLaren Park, meadows full of skylarks in early summer, before you return the same way. The round trip is 3 to 4km on flat ground, with an easy access path to the Sandpit and rougher tracks beyond.
This is a dog friendly walk on a common that welcomes dogs everywhere except the Wetlands at Heather Farm. Dogs can run in the Sandpit and fetch sticks from its seasonal pond, and a dog with good recall can be off lead on the woodland tracks. From 1 March to 15 September, keep dogs under close control and on the main paths to protect ground-nesting birds. Cattle graze some areas, marked by signs on gates. For a cafe, drive to Heather Farm on Chobham Road, which has a dog friendly cafe and a dog wash.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.5 km (2.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 5 min
- Walk Type
- Heathland, Woodland, Historic
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- None at Shores Road; Heather Farm Cafe (dog friendly) and a dog wash at Heather Farm, Chobham Road.
- Parking
- Shores Road car park, Horsell Common Preservation Society, free; Heather Farm car park (free) is the alternative.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Horsell Common: The Sandpit and McLaren Park, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Horsell Common: The Sandpit and McLaren Park dog friendly?
Horsell Common scores 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness and is a great choice for a day out with your dog. Dogs are welcome across the common, including the Sandpit — where they can run freely and splash in the seasonal pond — and the woodland tracks and meadows beyond, with the only exclusion being the Wetlands at Heather Farm. If you need a post-walk treat, Heather Farm Cafe on Chobham Road is dog friendly and even has a dog wash on site.
Can dogs be off lead at Horsell Common: The Sandpit and McLaren Park?
Dogs with good recall can enjoy off-lead time on the woodland tracks, and the Sandpit is a particularly good spot for a run around. The main thing to be aware of is the seasonal restriction: from 1 March to 15 September, dogs must be kept on the main paths and under close control to protect ground-nesting birds such as nightjar, Dartford warbler and woodlark, which breed on this protected heathland. Cattle also graze some areas of the common, so keep an eye out for signed gates.
What should I know before visiting Horsell Common: The Sandpit and McLaren Park with my dog?
The round trip from the free Shores Road car park to the Sandpit and McLaren Park meadows is 3 to 4km on flat ground, with an easy access path to the Sandpit and rougher tracks further on — a manageable outing for most dogs. The most important thing to plan around is the ground-nesting bird season: between 1 March and 15 September, keep your dog on the main paths and under close control. There are no facilities at the Shores Road car park itself, but Heather Farm on Chobham Road offers a dog friendly cafe and a dog wash, which makes a handy stop before or after your walk.
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