Holmwood CommonTrail guide

More InformationWelcome to Holmwood CommonYou can start your walk at Scamells, Fourwents, Mill Road or Inholms car parks. From here follow the signs to the circular trail and at a gentle pace it should take you 2 ½ hours.

National Trust

Find out more about what happens on the Surrey Hills

The National Trust is an independent conservation charity and needs your continued support. If you would like to know more about the National Trust, local places to visit, or how to become a member, please contact our local office:

Surrey

Surrey Hills Estate Office Warren Farm Barns Headley Lane Mickleham Dorking Surrey RH5 6DGTelephone: 01372 220640www.nationaltrust.org.uk/surreyhillsFacebook:NationalTrustSurreyHills

Photography: ©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra, John Millar, John Miller, Paul Harris, Britain on View – Rod Edwards, Vivien Hodge, Sam Bayley, Rob Adam, Mike AttwoodPrinted on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use.© National Trust 2014. National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846

There are plenty of places to stop off on the way for a picnic, to splash in a brook, climb trees or build dens. You can walk the route in any direction and if you feel adventurous try one of the wilder paths.

The main body of Holmwood Common was given to the National Trust in 1956, although smaller parcels including Holmwood Corner and land west of the A24 were donated up to 1980.

The National Trust looks after much of the Surrey Hills – from Limpsfield Common in the east to Hindhead Common in the west. In between are Box Hill, Leith Hill and Bookham Commons to name but a few of the places we care for. Our places are great for running around and

exploring, building dens and seeing the wonderful wildlife that lives there. You could take a kite on windy days and wear wellie boots for splashing on wet days. Pack a picnic and make a day of it, or come along for just an hour or two.

Free

Holmwood Common Circular Trail

Explore...An ancient common of village greens, dappled woodland and scattered ponds.

There’s lots to see and do at Holmwood Common throughout the year. The 3.1 mile (5 km) circular trail will help you to discover the common and the flora and fauna that live in this special place, whatever the season.

• Fourwents Pond was enlarged in 1876 to water the horses of 3000 troops who had assembled for a review by the Duke of Northumberland.

• In the past people who lived on Holmwood Common would have “Commoners’ Rights”. These ranged from the right to graze your pigs (pannage), the right to gather firewood (estovers) and the right to graze your sheep or cows (pasture).

• Holmwood Common is a haven for summer visitors – both two legged and winged! Chiffchaffs, blackcaps and willow warblers fly in from southern Europe and Africa, making the most of the large number of insects here in summer.

• Winter months and the profusion of berries, particularly those of the holly tree, mean that redwings and fieldfares from Scandinavia thrive in our warmer winters, stocking up for their long migration in the spring.

Did you know?On the 13 March 1944, a

German Junkers 88 plane

crashed on Holmwood

Common. Sadly all four

crew on board died of

their injuries and were

repatriated after the war.

In 2013 the site was

excavated and the remains

of the plane, including a

propeller hub are now

on permanent display

at the Wings Museum

at Balcombe in

West Sussex.

Did you know?It is reputed that somewhere beneath the common lies a bricked-up underground command centre dating back to the Second World War.

• Many of the oak trees that you will see on the common are the result of jays planting acorns for their winter reserves of food. Left forgotten and uneaten, they grow into oaks and subsequently feed more animals.

Look out for! Crab apple trees are native to the British Isles and are plentiful on the common; they are covered with pink blossom in spring and small, hard and bitter fruits in the autumn.

Don’t miss! Holmwood Common is remarkable for its mushrooms and toadstools. With ponds, rabbit mown grasslands and a huge resource of dead wood the common comes alive, especially in the autumn, with fruiting bodies of many colours. Enjoy them to look at and leave for others after you in this special place.

Red Lane

Black Brook

Black

Bro

ok

Mid Hol mwood Lane

Mid Holmwood Lane

Old FootballPitch

Eutrie Pond

Little Ponds

To Leighand Brockham

To Dorking

WillowGreen

To Dorking

To Newdigate

To Horsham

Mill Road Car Park

FourwentsPond

FourwentsMill Road Car Park

Kings Meadow

FourwentsBlackbrook Car Park

St. John’s Church

Old Cricket Pitch

Ford

Scamells Car Park

A2

4

A2

4

M i l l R o a dM i l l R o a d

Inholms Lane

Bl a

ck

br o

ok

Ro

ad

Mi l l

Bott

om L

ane

Sp

oo

k H

i ll

Inholms Car Park

Mid Holmwood

South Holmwood

North Holmwood

Public Footpath

National TrustPermissive Footpath

Circular Trail

W

W

W

W

J

J

K

K

K

W JK

Viewpoint

Car Parks

Horse Friendly Car Parks

Public Bridleway

Private

Roads

National TrustPermissve Bridleway

Red Lane

Black Brook

Black

Bro

ok

Mid Hol mwood Lane

Mid Holmwood Lane

Old FootballPitch

Eutrie Pond

Little Ponds

To Leighand Brockham

To Dorking

WillowGreen

To Dorking

To Newdigate

To Horsham

Mill Road Car Park

FourwentsPond

FourwentsMill Road Car Park

Kings Meadow

FourwentsBlackbrook Car Park

St. John’s Church

Old Cricket Pitch

Ford

Scamells Car Park

A2

4

A2

4

M i l l R o a dM i l l R o a d

Inholms Lane

Bl a

ck

br o

ok

Ro

ad

Mi l l

Bott

om L

ane

Sp

oo

k H

i ll

Inholms Car Park

Mid Holmwood

South Holmwood

North Holmwood

Public Footpath

National TrustPermissive Footpath

Circular Trail

W

W

W

W

J

J

K

K

K

W JK

Viewpoint

Car Parks

Horse Friendly Car Parks

Public Bridleway

Private

Roads

National TrustPermissve Bridleway

Holmwood CommonThe common is at the heart of four local communities and is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by all.

The 650 acre common is home to much of our well-known British wildlife. In the warmer months, dragonflies hover above the ponds and amphibians live in the dark pools. The air is filled with birdsong and colourful butterflies flutter from one bright flower to another.

For more information about Holmwood Common please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ holmwood-common

KeyDappled woodland and sunny clearings greet you – beautiful countryside for walking, horse riding and cycling. The common is fairly flat and ideal for families to explore, but it can be wet underfoot. Great fun though for kids who like squelching in mud with their brightly coloured wellies.

Dogs are very welcome on Holmwood Common, though we do ask that they are kept under control and kept within sight of you.

D The Little PondsThe little ponds here are a haven for wildlife – look for tadpoles, pond skaters and dragonflies. How many different types of bird can you hear singing? Don’t miss the chance to create your own secret camp in the den building area.

B The ViewpointThis is one of the highest points on Holmwood Common – 360 feet (110 metres) above sea level. From this viewpoint you can see the spire of St Barnabas Church on Ranmore Common as well as the viewpoint at Box Hill. The hill here is great to roll down and even better for sledging after a flurry of snow.

A

B

C

D

E

C Black Brook FordThe ford in the Black Brook is an ancient

one. Have a game of Pooh sticks, go

for a paddle, or float a paper boat.

Whilst you’re here, look out for an

unusual horse’s head along the trail

which was used to tether animals.

E Fourwents Pond

Fourwents Pond was named after the crossroads that it sits close to. It’s home to all sorts of water birds – what can you see? On summer evenings, Daubenton’s bats catch insects from the pond’s surface – bring a torch and you may see them.

A The Old Football Pitch

This is the site of the old village football pitch. It’s a great spot to kick a ball around, fly a kite or enjoy a picnic with family and friends. Why not bring a bat and ball and have a game of rounders?