The Walk: This walk starts from Merstham Station, and follows the North Downs Way National Trail, with many good viewpoints looking East and West along the North Downs scarp, and South over the Sussex Weald to the South Downs. Unusually, there are also good views to the North over the London Skyline. We finally descend over Oxted Downs to the train station in the leafy town of Oxted. An unavoidable feature of this part of the NDW is the proximity to the M25, the roar from which provides an inescapable accompaniment to an otherwise enjoyable ramble.
Map
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.
Why do it: So long as you're not put off by the traffic noise, this stretch of the NDW has some very good viewpoints (see map) looking East and West along the North Downs scarp, and South over the Sussex Weald to the South Downs. Unusually, around Chaldon, there are also good views to the North over the London skyline.
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M25 from Oxted Downs
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| London skyline |
Distance: 9 miles, along the NDW, plus 2 miles to Oxted Station, making 11 miles in total.
Logistics: Start from Merstham Station. Finish by leaving the NDW at Oxted Downs to descend to Oxted Station. My route from Merstham Station cuts a corner off the official NDW route: leave the station by the back entrance.
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| Footbridge over railway, Merstham Station |
Challenges:
Expect mud after rain.
Motorway noise is ever present on this walk. Obviously, it's worst closest to the road (you cross the M25 twice on footbridges, and the M23 once via an underpass), but reduces to a background hum up on the scarp.
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| Crossing M25, Merstham |
There are some short stretches of walking on quite narrow fast roads. Also, take care where the walk crosses roads.
At Gangers Hill Car Park, a long steep flight of steps descends the hillside.
Refreshments: Pub, garage mini-market and village shop in Merstham. The Harrow pub in Chaldon, just off the route. Several eateries and shops in Oxted town centre.
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| Oxted |
Similar WalksFor an overview map of all my walks along the North Downs Way see this page.
Previous section: Betchworth Station to Merstham
Next section: Oxted to Dunton Green
Photos
A sunny day in early May
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| Leaving Merstham |
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| M23 underpass |
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| M23 |
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| Looking back East along the North Downs |
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| Trig point approaching Hilltop Farm |
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| Views glimpsed through hedgerows |
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| Willey Park Farm |
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| London skyline (Wembley Arch on left) |
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| Shard |
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| Docklands |
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| Shard and Central London, Croydon and Crystal Palace transmitters, Docklands |
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| No motorways in sight |
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| Whitehill Tower folly |
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| Approaching Gravelly Hill |
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| Caterham viewpoint (aka Gravelly Hill) |
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| View from viewpoint |
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| Descending to A22 |
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| Footbridge over A22 |
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| A22 (closed for emergency repairs) |
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| Godstone Vineyards |
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| Marden Park |
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| Marden Park viewpoint |
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| Footpath above Tandridge Hill Lane |
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| Oxted Downs Viewpoint |
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| Oxted Downs (left (Toys Hill, centre) |
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| Steep steps above Oxted-Woldingham railway tunnel |
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| Oxted railway (red building with tower is old St Michael's school) |
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| Steps |
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| NDW path on Oxted Downs |
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| Looking East on Oxted Downs |
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| M25 |
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| M25, St Michael's school |
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| Footbridge over M25, Oxted |
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| Approaching Oxted |
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| Mean streets of Oxted |
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| Oxted Station (NDW info board) |
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