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Vineyard walk · Surrey
Box Hill and Westhumble to Denbies, on the North Downs Way
A six-mile loop from the station at Westhumble, up through the fields and woods to Ranmore and back down through the vines of Denbies, one of England’s largest vineyards. It follows the Ranmore Circular, a route Surrey County Council publishes, with the North Downs Way for much of the second half.
The walk at a glance
| Distance | 9.6km (6 miles), a loop |
|---|---|
| Walking time | About 3 hours, plus your stop at Denbies |
| Start and finish | Box Hill & Westhumble station |
| Underfoot | Lanes, field paths, woodland bridleways and farm tracks, with some steep climbs |
| Obstacles | Several gates and at most one stile, and two crossings of Ranmore Road |
| Vineyard | Denbies Wine Estate, about two-thirds of the way round |
| Food and drink | Denbies’ café and restaurants, and the Stepping Stones pub near the station |
| Toilets | At Denbies |
| Dogs | On a lead through the farmland and the vineyard, which are working farms with sheep |
The map
The walk runs anticlockwise from the station, and the stops follow the steps below. The shaded area is the Denbies vineyard.
- ABox Hill & Westhumble station
- BCrabtree Cottages
- CBagden Farm
- DDenbies Hillside, on the North Downs Way
- ESt Barnabas church, Ranmore
- FDenbies visitor centre
- GThe Stepping Stones pub
Surrey County Council’s own route sheet and map are on the National Trails website. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
The route
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Westhumble to Crabtree Cottages
1.5km, about 30 minutes, mostly uphill
Leave the station car park, turn left onto Westhumble Street and cross the railway bridge. Fork right into Crabtree Lane, between the flint arch and the chapel, and climb steadily for about a kilometre to Norbury Park’s Crabtree Lane car park. Carry on uphill for another 400 metres to Crabtree Cottages.
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Down to Bagden Farm
1.3km, about 20 minutes
Keep ahead on the footpath through fields and woodland for about 670 metres to a crossroads of paths. Turn left onto a bridleway down through the wood into a pasture, which may have sheep in it, and out to the road. Take the track opposite, signed for Bagden Farm and the youth hostel, into the Polesden Lacey estate.
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Through the woods to the North Downs Way
2.7km, about 45 minutes
Climb across a pasture past a large oak and follow the bridleway through the woods. After about 700 metres keep left, and 100 metres later fork right, past cottages to a T-junction with Ranmore Road.
Cross Ranmore Road with care, go right along the verge for 40 metres, then left onto a footpath and sharp left onto the North Downs Way. From here the waymarks are the National Trail acorn. The path runs through Steers Field and along Denbies Hillside, with views over Westcott and Dorking.
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Past St Barnabas
400 metres, about 10 minutes
At the junction by a cottage, keep left on the North Downs Way. The right-hand path links to the Greensand Way. Go through a kissing gate, cross Ranmore Road again with care, and follow the side road past St Barnabas church, the flint church with the tall spire.
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Down through the Denbies vineyard
2.9km, about 45 minutes
Stay on the side road for about 500 metres, then pass the white vehicle barrier onto a concrete track, with Denbies Lodge on the right. Take the first right and then turn left, still on the North Downs Way, and go through a gate into Denbies Wine Estate. The track runs down through woodland with the vineyard slopes below, to a signed crossroads of tracks.
Turn right, leaving the North Downs Way, onto a public bridleway, the concrete track between the vineyards towards Bradley Farm. For the visitor centre, keep ahead at the crossroads just before the farm, past the farm buildings, and turn left into the car park. Denbies is a working farm, so keep dogs on a lead.
Denbies in autumn, before the vines are pruned. -
At Denbies
The estate is open daily from 9am to 5.30pm, closing at 5pm on weekdays from January to March. It is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The wine and gift shop opens from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 9.30am to 5.30pm on Sundays.
The Conservatory Restaurant, the self-service café on the ground floor, is open daily from 9am to 4pm, and you can drop in for coffee and cake. The Gallery Restaurant upstairs serves lunch from Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm to 3pm, and to 4pm on Sundays, and booking is recommended. If you have time, an indoor wine tasting is £16.95 and the outdoor vineyard train tour, about 50 minutes, is £13. Book both ahead. More in our Denbies guide.
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Back to Westhumble
1km, about 20 minutes
Go back to the crossroads before Bradley Farm and turn sharp left along a wide grass track between the vineyards. Go through a gate, across a field and along a footpath between gardens to Adlers Lane, then uphill to Chapel Lane. Turn right onto the raised pavement, pass the end of Crabtree Lane and cross the railway bridge to the station.
The Stepping Stones on Westhumble Street, about 300 metres from the station, serves food every day and calls itself dog friendly and muddy boot friendly.
Getting there
Trains from London stop at Box Hill & Westhumble, one stop before Dorking. Check times before you set off. Box Hill & Westhumble station has ticket machines but no ticket office, and there is step-free access only to the platform for trains towards Dorking. The platform for trains towards London is reached by a footbridge with steps.
If you are driving, you can park at Denbies and start the loop there, at point F. Parking at Denbies is free for visitors.
Good to know
- There are some steep climbs, and the pastures and woodland paths are muddy after rain.
- Dogs are welcome on the estate grounds but not inside the main building. Keep them on a lead in the pastures, which may have sheep in them, and on the farm.
- Ranmore Road is crossed twice, so take care at both crossings.
- The route follows Surrey County Council’s Ranmore Circular, as mapped on OpenStreetMap. We last checked the details on 4 November 2026. If something has changed, please tell us.
Questions people ask
How long is the walk?
9.6 kilometres, or six miles. Surrey County Council suggests allowing three hours, plus time at Denbies.
Do I need to book anything at Denbies?
No, not for the café or the shop. Tours and tastings are booked ahead, and booking is recommended for lunch in the Gallery Restaurant.
Can I start from Dorking instead?
Denbies is a short walk from Dorking station, so you could visit from there, but this loop is written from Box Hill & Westhumble.
Is it suitable for dogs?
Yes, on a lead through the pastures and the vineyard. Dogs can go in Denbies’ grounds but not inside the main building, and the Stepping Stones pub welcomes them.