The Hurtwood is over 2,000 acres of privately owned common land in the Surrey Hills, and the public may walk, ride and cycle across it. It takes in Pitch Hill and Holmbury Hill, much of Blackheath and the Winterfold, and a good deal of heath and woodland besides. For a walk that gives you a proper summit, a hill fort and views across the Weald, it is hard to improve on.
How the Hurtwood came to be open
Public access dates from 13 October 1926, when Reggie Bray signed a Deed of Dedication giving the public a right to roam for air and exercise and quiet enjoyment. The Duke of Northumberland signed a similar deed. Today the land is looked after by the charity Friends of the Hurtwood, which manages 15 car parks, all free, and around 30 miles of registered footpaths and bridleways. It has one member of staff and relies on donations, so leave something if you can.
Holmbury Hill
The summit stands at 856 ft (261 m). From the top the view runs over the Weald of Sussex, reaching the South Downs in good conditions, and to the east you can pick out Leith Hill and its tower. Holmbury Hill is also one of the three summits in the Surrey Three Peaks challenge, alongside Box Hill and Leith Hill.
The hill carries Holmbury Camp, a small Iron Age multivallate hillfort that Historic England lists as a Scheduled Monument. It has double ramparts and ditches to the north and west, with scarping to the south and east. A former mountain-bike trail was rerouted because it was wearing away the fort's ditches, and tree trunks now block the old line, so keep to the paths.
The classic loop is a circular walk of 2.8 miles (4.5 km) from the church in Holmbury St Mary, per GPS Routes. It joins the Greensand Way through Hurt Wood to the summit. Heading west from the top, you can carry on to Pitch Hill. If you would rather drive closer, Car Park 1, the Holmbury Hill car park, is on Radnor Road and is open 24 hours.
For anyone who cannot manage a climb, Surrey Hills describes an easier access route: a loop of a little over 200 m from the Holmbury Hill car park to an Inspiring Views artwork called Converse, a circle of three benches with gaps for wheelchairs.
Pitch Hill
Surrey Hills describes Pitch Hill as a narrow sandstone spur rising from Peaslake to a summit towering over Ewhurst, with views to the South Downs. Its Pitch Hill trail is a 4.5 km circular route taking about an hour, starting at Walking Bottom car park in Peaslake. The first stretch is a steep climb, so allow for that. Ewhurst Windmill stands near the top and can be seen from the path, though it is a private home.
Pitch Hill also has its own car park on Ride Way, Ewhurst, known as Hurtwood Car Park 3.
A longer day
The Surrey Hills Inspiring Views walk is a 9.5 km (6 mile) loop past benches and poetry at viewpoints. It passes Ewhurst Windmill, follows the Greensand Way and offers an optional climb of Pitch Hill. That section has a long climb and a steep, narrow, rutted descent, and Surrey Hills does not recommend it when wet or icy, or for anyone not confident on rugged ground.
Good to know before you go
Paths are shared by walkers, runners, cyclists and horse riders, and the area is busy with mountain bikers at weekends.
Mud is common after rain, so wear proper footwear.
Walking Bottom, in Peaslake, is the usual start for Pitch Hill. Another public car park sits behind the Hurtwood Inn.
Where to eat and drink
The Royal Oak, Holmbury St Mary. A 17th-century pub by the village green and church on Felday Road, popular with walkers and cyclists, with a lockable cycle rack and a welcome for dogs. It reopened on 1 February 2023 and is run by a small group of local residents. Expect four changing real ales, including Firebird and Surrey Hills, and a front garden with an outside bar. The fish and chips has had praise, and the sample menu lists soup of the day at £7.50 and calamari at £8.50. It suits the end of the Holmbury Hill loop, since the walk passes through the village. Check opening hours with the pub before you set out.
Hurtwood Inn, Walking Bottom, Peaslake. A family-run independent hotel, bar and restaurant, and the natural stop after Pitch Hill, as it sits beside the Walking Bottom car park. According to the Surrey Hills directory, the beef and lamb come pasture-fed from Coverwood Farm in Peaslake, about 500 m up the road. CAMRA says it serves home-cooked English and Italian food, with a guest real ale usually from a local brewery. It is dog-friendly and family-friendly, with a garden, and has rooms if you want to make a weekend of it.
Peaslake Village Stores, Peaslake Lane, Peaslake. A village shop with a café counter that serves walkers and the Hurtwood crowd. Cakes and pastries made on site are what people praise, and it is busy with mountain bikers and road cyclists. It suits a quick, low-cost coffee before or after a walk. Hours vary between listings, so check before you rely on them.
Which walk suits whom
For a first visit, the Holmbury St Mary loop is the straightforward choice: a short circuit, a summit, a hill fort and a pub at the village green. Pitch Hill suits a morning from Peaslake, with a steep first climb and a drink at the end. Put the two together, as the Inspiring Views route does, and you have a full day on the Hurtwood.
