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View over the Surrey countryside at Harewoods, Surrey: with wooded hills in the distance, a church tower and in the foreground a field with a hedge boundary
View over the Surrey countryside at Harewoods, Surrey | © National Trust Images/Jo Hatcher
Surrey

Outwood Common walk at Harewoods

Enjoy a refreshing circular walk through ancient woodland and across open farmland. See what the farmers are growing in their fields and discover an enchanting hidden pond.

Total steps: 12

Total steps: 12

Start point

Outwood Common car park, Outwood, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5PU. Grid ref: TQ326456

Step 1

Starting at the Outwood Common car park, walk through the pedestrian gate at the end of the parking area, past the cricket pitch on your right.

The village cricket pitch at Outwood Common, with a sight screen in the foreground and another on the far side of the pitch, next to the pavilion
The village cricket team is a vital part of Outwood Common | © Chris Worsley

Step 2

You'll pass an ivy-covered tree on your right with a weathervane on top. Avoid the first turning on the left; instead continue around the edge of the pitch and take the path into the wood. As you reach the three-pronged fork in the path, keep to the middle. Continue in a straight line between the large oak trees and smaller (previously coppiced) hornbeams. The path may be muddy at this point.

Step 3

Head down towards the lowest point, where there is a small crossing over a tiny stream. Continue to the top of the hill, bearing left at the fork.

Step 4

The path will immediately start to dip down again (surrounded by brambles and holly). There's a ghyll to your left, down a slope. Keep along the top, until you see a path with steps, heading down to a footbridge. Cross the bridge and then carry on up the slope on the other side.

Wooden steps lead down to a wooden footbridge with a hand rail on one side, crossing a brook at Outwood Common walk, Harewoods, Surrey. There are trees with green leaves on both sides of the brook
Follow the path over the brook on Outwood Common | © Chris Worsley

Step 5

Turn right at the top of the hill and follow the path. Keep to the left-hand main paths when you come across any forks in the route. You will pass some ash trees. At the end of the path (there's a field in front of you) turn left. Carry on around 200m, to the end of the path, then turn right.

Step 6

After 30m, you'll see three cottages on your right. Head onto vehicle track (turn left). At the crossroads a few metres ahead, turn left. Just before the main road, you'll see a church on the right. Take the small path, on the right, along the edge of the church. Carry on passing areas of laurel, hawthorn, holly and larger oaks, with bracken further along. You'll soon see some large veteran oak trees on your right. Carry straight on along path.

Step 7

At the end of the path you’ll reach a public bridleway. Turn right, don't miss the secluded pond on your right. Carry on along the bridleway, until you reach a track. Turn left, and walk along until you reach a small fork, with a gate into a field.

Step 8

Go through the gate and follow the public footpath along the edge of the field, to the right. You'll walk around the field and then come to a gap through a narrow strip of trees, over a bridge across the ghyll. Head up the hill, out of the trees and then into a field.

A footbridge made of two planks crosses the ghyll, or stream, in a wooded area
Footbridge over the ghyll | © Chris Worsley

Step 9

Go straight ahead, following the edge of the field and you'll come to a crossroads with a fingerpost. Turn right onto a path between two large oaks in the boundary hedge. Carry on, with a hedge line to your left. At the end of the field you'll meet a path coming up on your right. Carry straight on along a short line of oak trees to reach a stile on the far side of the field, taking you back into woodland.

Step 10

Go over a stile, heading a short distance, until the path turns into a vehicle track, past cottages and the National Trust estate office on your right. Just past the yard, take the path right into the woods (between two large conifers).

Step 11

Turn left after around 50m, when you reach a swathe of brambles in front of you. Once you reach an area where the ground starts dipping, walk down to a small footbridge over a small stream.

Step 12

Head straight up the other side and continue until you reach the back of the cricket pavilion. Turn right and follow the edge of the pitch until you reach the path back to the car park.

End point

Outwood Common car park, Outwood, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5PU. Grid ref: TQ326456

Trail map

Harewoods Outwood Common walk map
Harewoods Outwood Common walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Get in touch

Outwood Lane, Outwood, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 5PW

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