Bookham Commons activity trail
Bookham Commons is a widely varied landscape, ranging from shady woodlands, to open grassland plains, to marshy ponds and wetlands. This provides a wonderful set of habitats for lots of wildlife. See how much you can spot as you wander along the paths.
Total steps: 7
Total steps: 7
Start point
Tunnel Car Park, KT23 3LT, grid ref: TQ130557
Step 1
From the notice board take the right fork along a surfaced path.
Step 2
The path will cross a small stream and you will reach a T-junction. Turn left here, following the signpost to the bird hide. After 20 yards you will find the path to the bird hide overlooking the Upper Eastern Pond. When you have finished at the pond, continue along the path through the oak woodland. You will pass more ponds on your left hand side which were created as fish ponds for the monks of Chertsey Abbey.
Step 3
The path comes to a junction of many paths by Merrits Cottage. Take the surfaced path on your right, which follows a course between Hill House Wood and the Central Wood.
Step 4
After approximately 400 yards, the path comes to an open glade. The surfaced path turns to the right, but you should take the left-hand path and follow it to the Hundred Pound Bridge.
Step 5
The Hundred Pound Bridge is a great place to play pooh sticks! Take a breather here before heading down the surfaced path, or if you wish to be more adventurous you can take the bridle path a little further to the right. The bridle path goes through the Western plain and the area was once open grassland, grazed by cattle. Today this is a prime hunting ground for goshawks and sparrow hawks.
Step 6
The surfaced path will come back to the junction at Merritts Cottage. (If you've followed the bridle path, you'll first come to a path where you have to turn left.) From the cottage, head straight down back down the surfaced track to the Tunnel Car Park.
Step 7
The path will continue through woodland and you will come out by the car park.
End point
Tunnel Car Park, KT23 3LT, grid ref: TQ130557
Trail map
More near here
Bookham Common butterfly walk
This walking trail takes you through one of the best woods in England for sighting the elusive purple emperor butterfly, which thrives here thanks to decades of work by National Trust rangers to protect the specialist habitats it needs.
Get in touch
Church Road, Great Bookham, Surrey, Nearest postcode KT23 3LT
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