Farthing Downs — Attraction in London

Great place for a walk or to take the dog.

Doggie poop bins are available at both ends, in the middle and at the cattle fence line. Please use these and do not just abandon the little 'presents'.

Great views - you can see miles into London.

Be careful though, there is a road in the middle which is a risk if your dog likes to roam off-lead. The access road is narrow in places so drive with care. Approaching from Chaldon is via a narrow lane with many a tyre ruining pothole and rut to the side. Idiots often take large vans/lorries down here and cars drive very fast for the visibility.

During the summer months, there is usually a herd of cows in the fenced off (but walkable) section. Remember to close the gates (yes, that includes you too joggers) and keep the dog on a lead. Just ignore them and they will ignore you.

Can get windy on the top of the Downs, just walk down the hill sides to shelter a little.

There are toilets at the carpark end, and parking can get busy. An overflow carpark is opened up sometimes to allow field parking next to the main tarmac site. The entrance way closes for the night automatically so watch out for close times (especially in winter months).

It is possible to walk all the way through to Chaldon from the Downs - muddy in winter but a nice longer walk in Summer. There are no facilities at the Chaldon end though so plan accordingly.

A nice bit of greenbelt in the middle of the developments in outer London. Please keep it clean by taking away rubbish and...

Great area to visit for long walks. One parking option is to leave the car at the car park by The Fox pub and walk from there (its also a great pub for food and drinks and dogs are welcome). The area can be rather hilly but you can avoid and keep the walk relatively flat if preferred. From the fox car park you can walk down to the valley and up happy valley for the views. It can get very waterlogged in the rain, so advise to leave the nice trainers at home! Dogs welcome and off the lead for the majority of the area. Keep an eye out for farm animals as dogs will need to be on a lead in these fields (some will be closed at times of the year but there are many routes around any locked off area). There are many benches and picnic tables in some areas, which also come with some great views. For reference the car park within Farthing Downs is chargeable (you will get a fine even if just stopping for...

Hidden within the rows of comuter streets in Coulsdon you will pass a narrow and unpretentious road that steeply rise uphill. Within a 100m you will suddenly be transported onto one of the most picturesque surrey downs ridges. The road runs from one end of the ridge to the other where you will find a small car park. Leave your car here and walk the one mile back along the ridge from where you came for spectacular views either side of fields, cattle and rows of houses below you. On a clear day you will be able to see central london with its familiar skyline in the distance. I love to walk this path on a spring day with a bracing wind in my face. If you want to make a day of it drop down the side to happy valley where you will be transformed to a peaceful natural setting to forget everything and contemlat nature and the wonder...