Lower Mole Partnership – countryside self-guided walks

An enjoyable selection of self-guided walk routes to enjoy in the Lower Mole Partnership area

The Lower Mole Partnership promotes and helps its partners to maintain five countryside walk routes of varying lengths that traverse its partnership area of north Surrey and into Kingston.

These walk routes are accompanied by descriptive and illustrated self-guided walk leaflets that are available in traditional hard copy format. To request your free copies, please send an SAE (A5 size) to: Lower Mole Partnership, 2 West Park Farmhouse, Horton Country Park, Horton Lane, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8PL. Please allow up to three weeks to receive your leaflets pack by return.

One popular route, the Thames Down Link, is available on Google Maps as a digital walking leaflet.

The other four walk routes have been reproduced in the AllTrails Explore Surrey Collection and can be downloaded as pdfs below or you can consider buying the AllTrails.com walking app.

Notably these walks follow public footpaths and bridleways which cross private land. Please kindly respect people's privacy, keep dogs under control and remember the Countryside Code when out walking these routes.


Thames Down Link

The Thames Down Link, a popular 15 mile long distance linear route from Kingston to Box Hill, was fully reviewed and updated during 2018-2019 and the Thames Down Link digital walk leaflet is now available on Google Maps.

The route follows the green corridor, joining the urban area of Kingston with the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Significantly the route links the Thames Path National Trail at Kingston with the North Downs Way National Trail at Westhumble. This route is waymarked with a distinctive logo along its full length. The route links with public transport at several points, so you don't have to walk it all at once.

New/replacement signage and walk discs have been installed along the route, plus a new information board designed and installed at Box Hill and Westhumble train station. The route refresh was a joint project co-ordinated by the Lower Mole Partnership, working in partnership with the North Downs Way Trail, partners Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, Southern Rail and the production of the new board was also financially supported by the Surrey Hills AONB.


Chessington Countryside Walk

A 5.5 mile circular route through the beautiful countryside south of Chessington. The route passes through Horton Country Park, Epsom Common and over the top of Winey Hill. The route is waymarked with a distinctive logo.

Chessington Countryside Walk information sheet Explore Surrey (PDF)


Discover Downside Countryside Walk

A 5 mile circular route through the countryside south of Cobham. The route passes through meadows beside the River Mole, past Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower and through farmland.

Discover Downside information sheet Explore Surrey (PDF)


Leatherhead Common Walk

A 3 mile circular route through the countryside north of Leatherhead. The route passes through Teazle Wood and across Ashtead Common National Nature Reserve. The route is waymarked with green arrows.

Directions for Leatherhead Common Walk

Leatherhead Common Walk AllTrails Explore Surrey Collection


Mole Gap Trail

A 6 mile linear route linking Leatherhead and Dorking, taking in part of the North Downs Way National Trail. Visit two historic market towns and the outstanding countryside of the Mole Gap, including England's largest vineyard. Catch the train to Leatherhead and follow the trail to Dorking; the distinct silver arrows will clearly show you the way.

The walking routes section of the Surrey Hills AONB website has full details of the Mole Gap Trail.

Mole Gap Trail information sheet Explore Surrey (PDF)

Other walk routes you might also like to explore

London LOOP - South London sections 1-8

The London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) sections 1-8 are all south of the Thames; they cover Old Bexley Village, through West Wickham, Coulsdon, Banstead and Bourne Hall to Kingston-upon-Thames.

The walk sections from Erith on the Thames, through the countryside on the southern border of London to the Thames again at Kingston, is fully open. The LOOP is waymarked with a distinctive logo.

For full information on the London Loop - South London 1-8 sections and the rest of the 24 sections that form a circular route to explore all around London, please visit Transport for London's Walk London - London Loop dedicated webpage. You can find all the links to the latest downloadable pdf maps and directions for all sections on the London Loop webpage.

A limited number of the original fully illustrated London Loop walk packs (South London sections 1 to 8) and individual walk leaflets for sections 4, 5, 7 and 8 are still available in hard copy and these can be requested from the Downlands Partnership.


Directions downloads


Files available to download


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