Scramble Along the Natural Play Trail at Box Hill, Dorking
Scattered throughout the woods on top of Box Hill are natural play areas with balance courses, ropes, logs, tree climbing, dens and a fort. This is called the Box Hill Natural Play Trail and it’s a fantastic way to liven up a walk in the woods. My kids love it.
The Natural Play Trail The Natural Play Trail include things like:
logs to edge along
Box Hill Box Hill Fort The Stepping Stones As well as the Natural Play Trail, Box Hill also has picturesque views, mini-beasts, a cafe, Visitor Centre and Discovery Zone. The Box Hill Fort was one of a series of forts built in the 1890s to enable London to defend itself from invasion. It was used again during WW2. The River Mole flows along the foot of Box Hill and can be crossed by jumping between the famous Stepping Stones. 
To find the Stepping Stones you can either walk down the hill or drive to the Stepping Stones car park (see below). 
From April to June the air is heavy with the unmistakable scent of wild garlic.
Further Information
Nearest Town: Dorking Opens: Daily Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic. How Long We Spent There: 4 hours Parking: There are different car parks to choose from – a couple on top of Box Hill (KT20 7LB – can be unreliable so follow signs as soon as you see them) and another by the Stepping Stones (RH5 6AE). They all become very busy and are often full by mid-morning. Wildlife You Might See: Birds, butterflies and other insects. First Visit: June 2018
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcodes: Box Hill: KT20 7LB – note that his does not seem to work for all sat navs so follow signs once you start to see them. The Stepping Stones: RH5 6AE – keep an eye out for the car park as it is easy to miss.
Cost: Free
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, shop, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic areas.
Buggies: The paths around the car parks are surfaced and buggy-friendly. The paths along the play trail are muddy and uneven in places but I used an all terrain buggy without any issues.
Cost of Parking: Free for National Trust members; from £1.50 per hour for non-members.
Last Visit: June 2021
Ratings
Our visit to Box Hill and the Box Hill Natural Play Trail in Dorking is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.
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