Top 20 Natural Monuments around Guildford

Indian cafe/shop very much present & seems worth trying. If you're into gin, there's also a distillery with bar (booking might be needed).

...many feel an eerie stillness looking out over the still water surrounded by the evergreen box trees. Legend has it that this is due to the fate of a woodcutter's daughter who was surprised by a nobleman on a horse as she bathed in the pool. Having failed to lure her to the bank, he rode his horse into the water and caused the girl to move out to deeper water where she drowned. When the woodcutter returned and found her body, he also found the nobleman's hat floating on the water. It bore the crest of none other than Prince John! Source: https://www.visitsurrey.com/listing/silent-pool/66361101/

The open summit of Holmbury Hill offers beautiful panoramic views. A delightful toposcope adds to the pleasure allowing you to identify features over 20 miles away. For example, from here on a clear day it is straightforward to see the prehistoric hill fort of Chanctonbury Ring on the South Downs located 20 miles (32 km) due south. Holmbury Hill is one of the three classic Surrey hills - along with Box Hill and Leith Hill - included in the ‘Surrey Three Peaks Challenge’. This 23-mile (37 km) round trip is comparable in distance to the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge but has a third less climbing. For less energetic hikers there is also a pleasant shorter three peaks Surrey walk comprising Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill and Leith Hill which has a round trip length of 12 miles (19 km).

This memorial stands about 12 feet tall and is hewn from the base of a giant redwood tree. The plaque states that the former "giant redwood tree was planted by Ed Dorran in memorial of all those who gave their lives for our freedom". It would appear that the original giant redwood must have died recently and that this carved memorial has been made to continue the tree's memory and tribute.

The excellent Guildford Castle Grounds are unique, interesting and well worth visiting during a hiking, cycling or running tour. The Grounds are famous for their excellent flower displays in the valley that surrounds the Castle Keep. Other free attractions include the remains of Castle walls, passageways, a Victorian bandstand (where music concerts take place), a delightful 17th century bowling green bordered on one side by specimen beech trees, an impressive war memorial and a life-size statue of Alice Through the Looking Glass. Guildford Castle Grounds has a fascinating history. The Castle is thought to have been built either by William the Conqueror or by one of his barons soon after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The Castle has been used as a Royal Palace, a prison and as a private residence. The grounds at the Castle were opened as public gardens in 1888 to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. You might wish to explore the Guildford Castle Grounds or to simply admire its scenery during a stop for a snack and a drink. However, should you have time, you may also wish to climb the Castle Great Tower via its spiral staircase. This will give a panoramic view of Guildford and its beautiful surrounding countryside, and provide an appreciation of why the Castle’s location is strategically good.

Estimated to be about 950 years old, the Newlands Corner yew trees are one of the oldest large populations of wild yews growing anywhere in the world. A survey conducted in 2012 found six yews with a girth of at least 19.7 feet (6 m) and 17 yews with a girth of at least 16.4 feet (5 m). The UK’s ‘Ancient Yew Group’ state that the oldest yews originated from about the time of the Norman invasion (and are demonstrably about 950 years old). There is also a ‘Black Death’ cohort of yews that date from soon after 1348 and are about 670 years old. Unfortunately, two of the ancient yew trees at Newlands Corner have died recently for an unknown reason. This has led to the construction of a boardwalk to protect the roots of three of the oldest surviving yews as part of a ‘Yew Tree Project’. The boardwalk is next to the main footpath between Guildford Golf Course and Newlands Corner. It was inspiring to see an ancient yew woodland of international standing where the trees date back to soon after 1066!

Piney Copse is a pleasant and small 4.2-acre (1.7 ha) wood owned by the National Trust. The Copse is notable because it was bought by the novelist E. M. Forster with funds from the sales of his novel ‘A Passage to India’. It was acquired by the National Trust following Forster’s death in 1970. The Copse is located between Beggars Lane and Hackhurst Lane on the northern side of the village of Abinger Hammer, where Forster lived for two decades. A public footpath crosses Piney Copse and, if followed eastward, this footpath continues on to Broomy Downs, Abinger Roughs and beyond.

Couple of benches to sit down & Relax along with coffee shop