Box Hill loop from Box Hill & Westhumble station — Surrey Hills

Box Hill lies within the Surrey Hills region of the North Downs, less than an hour south of central London. Taking its name from the ancient box woodland that grows on the slopes surrounding the hill, this is a fascinating place to explore that lends itself perfectly to running. This Tour takes you on a loop of the wooded hills and valleys surrounding the hill, where you’ll soon forget you’re just a stone’s throw from the capital.

The area is owned and managed by the National Trust, having been saved from development by Leopold Salomon, a wealthy city financier, who purchased Bok Hill in 1914 and donated it to the nation.

Our Tour crosses the famous and much-photographed stepping stones before climbing up to the Salomon Memorial and viewpoint – make sure you take a moment to stop and admire the grand views over Dorking and Surrey. You’ll then take in a loop of Box Hill Country Park, following woodland and meadow trails around Lodge Hill before descending to the River Mole and crossing back to the station.

Refuel at the café at the visitor centre, conveniently placed at around the halfway point. On warm days you’re very likely to pass a couple of ice-cream vans en route.

Other great trails to run nearby include the North Downs Way, which crosses the stepping stones and passes the Salomon Memorial on its 153-mile (246 km) journey from Farnham to Dover. There are also a number of waymarked walks around Box Hill, which mostly start at the visitor centre and range from a short hilltop jog of about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the 8-mile (12.8 km) Box Hill Hike. All the trails are great for running but there are some steep hills and sections can get muddy and slippery so grippy trail shoes are a good choice.

This Tour starts at Box Hill & Westhumble station, about 50 minutes from London Waterloo.