We are so lucky to live where we do. We are spoilt for lovely countryside walks in our local area (and also a bit further afield if you don’t mind a short drive out).

It’s a good idea to visit different places with your dog rather than walk in the same place each time. Variety on walks builds confidence and provides much more mental stimulation and enrichment.

If you are first time dog guardians or dog lovers who are new to the area, you may be interested in our list of favourite dog walk locations.

All the walks listed have different loops so they can be as long or as short as you would like them to be. In some of the locations, you may encounter horses, horse and riders, birds, ducks, sheep and/or cattle. Whilst this makes for good socialisation opportunities, please be aware of and follow the Countryside Code at all times.

Some of our listed walks are in the local area (Reigate/Redhill) and others are slightly further afield but still within a 20-30 minute drive. They are listed in no particular order, however, the ones marked with a ❤ are our particular favourites.

This list has been put together by both Amanda and Bella!

❤ Walton Heath/Mogador ❤

Park in the dog friendly Sportsman Pub car park or on Mogador Road. Enjoy miles of heathland from the car park. Wide open space, quiet and well marked out pathways. Wooded areas can be found here too and you can also reach Colley Hill (known also as Reigate Hill and the delightful Junction 8 Café). Return to the Sportsman for a nice bite to eat! You may encounter horse riders here and there is a golf course to one side of the heathland.

❤ Colley Hill/Reigate Hill (from top) ❤

Park at the Junction 8 Café near the top of Reigate Hill. This car park can get very busy but it is free and the café is lovely! If you walk past the Café across the bridge over the road, and continue up the path, you’ll get to the top of Colley Hill which has spectacular views. You may encounter some cows (which are very used to dogs). You can continue, if you wish, to walk to the dog friendly Sportsman Pub at Mogador for a nice bite to eat.

Colley Hill/Reigate Hill (from bottom)

Park in Somers Road and walk up Pilgrims Way (no parking on this road as it is a Private Road but accessible by foot). At the top of Pilgrims Way, turn left and enjoy a walk along the North Downs Way, providing lots of footpaths leading much further afield. If you fancy a good climb, you can head up to Colley Hill for the lovely views.

Gatton Park Woods

Park either at the Junction 8 Café near the top of Reigate Hill (this car park can get very busy but it is free and the café is lovely) or on Wray Lane in a little pull-in half way up. With the Café behind you, walk across the Wray Lane (not the bridge side) towards the woods. You may encounter some cows on this walk.

❤ Reigate Heath ❤

Free parking on Flanchford Road, just after the row of colourful houses if coming from the Black Horse Pub. This is a shared golf course, but everyone respects each other. You do need to be aware of flying golf balls though and it is best to allow the golfers to take their shot before walking across the fairways. This is a lovely quiet place to walk and especially good for young puppies who are learning recall. You can walk to the Skimmington Castle Pub or a bit further to The Pheasant Pub, both of which are dog friendly. There is a windmill and a little stream for dogs to play in (located down the path to the side of the cottage that faces the windmill across one of the fairways).

❤ Brockham ❤

This is a lovely village between Reigate and Dorking. Park considerately on the roads around Brockham Green and walk towards the Grumpy Mole Pub. Continue ahead between the houses after the pub and turn left at the end to walk down by a river. Follow this path to the dog friendly Dolphin Pub for a half-way drink/bite to eat! If you choose not to visit the Dolphin pub, turn right and continue to walk over the bridge. Just after the bridge, there is a gate through to fields on the right which takes you on a nice round robin walk through fields, past Brockham Church and back to the pubs on The Green! Teas and cake on the Green are held on some weekends in the summer. Cows and sheep may be encountered at some points on this walk.

❤ Fourwents Pond/Holmwood Common ❤

This walk is delightful and just outside Brockham. There are several small but free car parks to choose from (we park in the one by the pond – please keep dogs on leads near the ducks)! This can be a short or long walk depending on which route you take and most of it has hard paths so pushchair friendly. This really is a lovely walk, but can get a bit muddy if it has been raining a lot.

❤ Banstead Woods ❤

Free car park on Holly Lane which can get busy! These woods are vast and very popular. It is great for children as there is a Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe trail for them to follow and find the different wood carvings (which are huge)! You can walk to the Ramblers Rest Pub which is dog friendly, for a bite to eat afterwards.

Outwood

Take a walk around Brandsland Woods (just off Outwood Lane). Free parking available. You may encounter some sheep but they are usually by the farmhouse which is quite a way from the car park. There are also some streams for your dog to enjoy.

❤ Headley Heath ❤

Park in one of the National Trust car parks and enjoy a short or long walk around Headly Heath. There are usually refreshments in the main car park (the one opposite the cricket pitch). You may encounter horse riders and cows. There is a pond that your dog can enjoy too. There is a long walk that will take you to Boxhill from here.

Box Hill

You can park in the National Trust car park but this can get very busy. There are lots of different walks from here with good views. You can walk down to the pretty stepping stones across the river or even start there and walk up Box Hill. An alternative place to park if you don’t mind the climb up, is at the bottom of Box Hill from Rykers car park. Areas of Box Hill are very steep.

❤ Ranmore Common ❤

Another National Trust location which offers its own car park. Lovely views and there is sometimes a refreshment van in the car park. There are some cows on this walk. From here you could also walk to Polesdon Lacey.

❤ Polsedon Lacey ❤

Run by the National Trust, Polesdon Lacey is a bit further out than 30 minutes, but worth the drive. There are areas where dogs need to remain on lead, but there are VAST areas where they can come off and explore. We love it here. One of our top favourites.

❤ Leith Hill ❤

There is free parking outside the Plough Pub in Coldharbour or in the Leith Hill car park. You are likely to encounter cows and horse riders on this walk and the views from the top are lovely! There are refreshments up at Leith Hill Tower.

Denbies

Park at Denbies Wine Estate and enjoy a walk around the estate. There are some lovely views to be seen from here.

Felland Copse

This is a little hidden treasure really but popular during the week with professional dog walkers, quiet at other times. Turn into the lane opposite the main Earlswood Lakes car park (sign posted Connicks Tree Care). There’s a free car park, streams, woodlands and fields to explore. This really comes into its own during bluebell season – the woods look and smell incredible!

Earlswood Lakes

This offers a free car park with refreshments available. There are areas where dogs must be kept on leads due to the ducks and swans but there are also areas where they can be allowed to explore off lead.

Priory Park

Park for free in Morrisons car park (limited time restriction though) or other paid car parks in Reigate. There are swans, ducks etc by the pond so make sure you keep your dog on lead around that part. It is VERY busy with children and be aware of picnics! There is a café within the grounds. The top part of the Priory offers a quieter walk and there is a path behind the pond which leads to allotments across the road and then to Reigate Heath eventually.

Mercer’s Lake/Nutfield Marshes

A nice short walk with parking at Mercers Lake (check opening and closing times though). There are fields, a nature reserve (be careful your dogs can't get through fences here as there are gaps).

❤ Buchan Park ❤

Finally, although a little further out, just past Crawley, we finish with Buchan Country Park which is another of our big favourites. Very dog friendly with a good car park, refreshment centre and visitor information centre. Plenty of dog poop bins available too! There are two ponds, one for fishing (no dogs allowed) but the other is called the Dog Dip Pond – great if you have a dog that loves to swim! This is really pretty in the autumn!

We hope you enjoy exploring some (or all) of these walks with your dogs and if you have any others you would like to share, please do contact us with the details and we will add them to our list!