Abinger Roughs
Children will enjoy the natural play area at Abinger Roughs then playing in the river and at the play park in Abinger Hammer.
Playing by the river in Abinger Hammer. This is a really popular paddling spot in the summer.
The Basics
Time: 35 minutes each way
Distance: 2 km each way
Terrain: Woodland paths, mostly flat with only very gentle inclines, some narrow paths, quiet lanes and village pavements, one road crossing
Pushchairs: Our route to Abinger Hammer is not suitable, but there is a nature walk on the National Trust website that just loops around Abinger Roughs and this would be suitable for an all-terrain pushchair
Dogs: Yes
Refreshments: There is a picnic area at Abinger Roughs, a tea room in Abinger Hammer or a short drive away (or as an extra distance to this walk) there are two amazing pubs in Gomshall, with the most gorgeous riverside gardens - The Gomshall Mill and The Compasses Inn
Toilets: None
Public Transport: Compass Travel and Metrobus run route 32 between Guildford and Redhill which stops at Abinger Hammer where you can join this walk. Trains stop at Gomshall, from where it is a 25 minute walk along a pavement beside the A25 to Abinger Hammer.
Parking: A free car park at Abinger Roughs on White Down Lane (Postcode: RH5 6QS - W3W: noise/swift/tape)
The natural play area at Abinger Roughs
Abinger Roughs is a National Trust woodland hiding some ancient trees and patches of grassland. There is a picnic and natural play area. Our linear walk connects the roughs to the Surrey Hills village of Abinger Hammer with a tea-room and celebrated paddling spot. Just next to this is a cute village play area, and a short drive away (or 25 minute walk) is Gomshall with two excellent riverside pubs.
The Route
From the Abinger Roughs car park, look for the wooden pillar engraved with ‘natural play area’. Follow the arrow through the woodland to a clearing where you will find a variety of tree stumps and logs arranged into climbing and balancing apparatus. There are picnic benches here too.
Standing with the play area to your left, take the footpath running along the right hand side of the clearing. This path starts off narrow, then bends to the right and the widens out. Walk along the woodland path until just after a bench, you will come to a sign notifying you of some path erosion (as of September 2024). Follow the diversion around to the right which will take you through the woodland and then curve round to a wooden gate on your left.
Go through the gate and follow the wide, sandy path as it goes up towards another wooden gate. Keep going straight after this gate. After another section of woodland, this path will bring you out onto an open grassy area, which could also be good for picnics and a run around.
From the clearing, keep going in the most straight and direct way, ignoring any paths forking to the left or right. Continue forward to another gate. Go through the gate and you will notice that the trees begin to thin out and a view is starting to open up on your right. Continue down to a bench and another gate.
On the other side of the gate, the path is enclosed between a hedge and a double fence with views to the right. When you hit the tarmac lane at the end of this path, turn left and follow the lane to the village of Abinger Hammer. Beware that the road at the bottom can be busy.
Cross the road and you will find yourself on the village green. The river Tillingbourne runs through here and the shallow water, grassy banks and little bridges have made this a popular spot for summer picnics for generations. There is a village shop and a tea-room just down the road and a little further along is The Kingfisher farm shop set beside a lovely pond. In the far right hand corner of the green, past the cricket pitch is a little enclosed children’s play area.
This is a linear walk, so you can return the way you came. Alternatively, you can extend the walk along the A25 to Gomshall. There is a pavement the whole way, but it is narrow in places and the road is busy so you might prefer just to drive there when you have finished your walk (it is a two minute drive). Highlights of Gomshall include The Compasses and The Gomshall Mill. Both have gardens with play areas and riverside access. Children will also love The Coach House Surrey, which has an amazing display of teak root animal sculptures on its forecourt.
Did you know?
Hidden among the trees of Abinger Roughs is a remarkable tree that is thought to be between two and three hundred years old. It is called The Witches' Broom Tree and has a girth of around nine metres! The gnarled old tree grows in mysterious twisted shapes. We found it using this location on Google maps, which proved to be pretty accurate.
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