Thank you Mr Salomons….

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one celebrating at the sunshine when I woke up this morning after the last couple of days of awful weather. Being lucky enough to live on the North Downs Way I decided a trail jog (it definitely doesn’t count as running for me in the Hills!) was in order so as to make the most of the upturn in the forecast.

I set out across the top of Betchworth Quarry. This starting point is a five minute walk or so from Betchworth station,  which is serviced,  regularly, if infrequently,  by trains from Dorking Deepdene, Redhill and Reigate as well as Guildford. Most local readers will know that the Quarry was once full of Daleks as Doctor Who was filmed here in the seventies.

In the distance behind the tower nestles the village of Betchworth. If you look very closely,  you’ll see the spire of St. Michaels’s church,  venue for wedding number one in Four Weddings and a Funeral, although in the film it’s supposed to be in Somerset.

As you leave the Quarry you next reach Brockham Lime Works:

The Way is well signposted so you’re very unlikely to get lost – just follow the acorns! There are some steep climbs in this section but you certainly don’t need to be super-fit to manage it, as long as you have sensible footwear.

You might be quite surprised when in a very cool, wooded spot you’ll come across a grave. On inspection you’ll see that,  although at first sight it looks as if it marks human remains, it clearly doesn’t.

When I first came across the headstone I, like many,  assumed that Quick was a horse, although the grave is most definitely not equine-sized. Subsequent research confirmed however that Quick was in fact a greyhound, and was buried there by Mr Barnholdt, the then land-owner.

I carried on along the beautiful, bucolic trail; marvelling at the thought of the many, many people who have walked the ancient pathways before: A further section of the way merges with the Pilgrims Way marking the route of pilgrims walking from Winchester to Canterbury.

Amazingly, I saw more squirrels and butterflies than humans during the 90 or so minutes that I was out,  excluding the now customary cyclists where the way is close to the road.

I surprised myself by how far I’d gone when suddenly the clatter of cutlery and Dolly Parton emerged through the trees. The path had reached Boxhill Road, at the point where it becomes the Zig Zag Road (loved and loathed by said cyclists in equal measure). I was had reached the Smith and Western restaurant.

I hemmed and hawed about whether to continue but decided,  having gone so far already, that I may as well continue to the Viewpoint, as it really is one of my favourite spots to contemplate the world. Nothing beats an awesome vista as far as I’m concerned.

The view was as magnificent as ever as I stood at the Viewpoint with it’s memorial to Leopold Salomons who “gave Box Hill to the nation” in 1914 having purchased the land in order to save it from development.

          Dorking from the Viewpoint

            Leith Hill, from Box Hill

As so often before,  I blanked out the sound of the dozens of cyclists on the road behind me and thanked Mr Salomons for his generosity.

These hills are breathtaking, especially on a sunny weekday morning when there are so few other people around. Make the most of them, we’re so lucky that they’re on our doorstep.

Stay chilled x