Norbury Park and Druids Grove from Westhumble
Surrey
Norbury Park is a country estate in the Mole Gap between Dorking and Leatherhead, centred on a Georgian manor house, where dogs should be kept under effective control near the grazing sheep and cattle. In 1931 Surrey County Council bought it at auction to stop it being developed, the first purchase of its kind in England, and Surrey Wildlife Trust now manages it. Bluebells fill the woods in spring, and the yews of Druids Grove may be up to 3,000 years old. This 10km loop climbs to Denshire Hill and Fetcham Downs for views over the Surrey Hills, runs north towards Hawk's Hill above Leatherhead, then returns south through Druids Grove and Beechy Wood. Expect around 200 metres of climbing on unmade paths that are uneven, steep and slippery in places.
This dog friendly walk has plenty of woodland where a dog with good recall can explore, but the estate is also working farmland. Cattle graze the chalk grassland, sheep are kept on the farms, and skylarks nest in the fields, so keep dogs on a lead through fields and wherever stock is about. The Trust asks for dogs to be under effective control at all times, and roe deer are common in the woods. Shade is good in Druids Grove and Beechy Wood, but carry water. The Woodland Hub at the sawmill, near the Crabtree car park, has a cafe and a toilet on some days of the week.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 10.0 km (6.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 3 hr
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Woodland Hub cafe and accessible compostable toilet at the sawmill (open some days of the week); King William IV pub at Mickleham nearby.
- Parking
- Crabtree car park off Crabtree Lane, Westhumble, Surrey County Council, unmarked spaces; Fetcham and Young Street car parks off the A246.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Norbury Park and Druids Grove from Westhumble, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norbury Park and Druids Grove from Westhumble dog friendly?
Norbury Park scores 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness, making it a solid choice for a dog walk with a few things to bear in mind. The estate offers plenty of varied terrain — chalk downland, ancient yew woodland and beech woods — but it is also working farmland, so dogs need to be kept under effective control at all times, as the Surrey Wildlife Trust requires.
Can dogs be off lead at Norbury Park and Druids Grove from Westhumble?
Dogs with good recall can enjoy some off-lead time in the woodland sections, such as Druids Grove and Beechy Wood, where there is plenty to explore. However, leads are essential through fields and anywhere livestock is present — cattle graze the chalk grassland, sheep are kept on the farms, and skylarks nest in the fields — and roe deer are common in the woods, so good recall is genuinely important here.
What should I know before visiting Norbury Park and Druids Grove from Westhumble with my dog?
This is a 10km loop with around 200 metres of climbing on unmade paths that can be uneven, steep and slippery, so it suits a fit, energetic dog rather than one that tires easily. Carry water for your dog, as shade is mainly limited to the woodland sections; the Woodland Hub cafe at the sawmill near Crabtree car park has a toilet and refreshments on some days of the week, and the King William IV pub at nearby Mickleham is another option after your walk.
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