Walking The Greensand Way Part 14 - Betchworth and Reigate Heath

View across the River Mole to the North Downs


Start & Finish: St Michael's Church, The Street, Betchworth, RH3 7DN
Distance: 9.6 km (5.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 98m
Greensand Way section covered: St Michael’s Church, Betchworth to Littleton Lane: 4.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Mills and Pillboxes Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
OS Trig Pillar: TP5633 - Reigate Heath
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Dolphin, Betchworth (at start and end), Skimmington Castle (3.8 km in),
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Betchworth, River Mole, Reigate Heath


This is the fourteenth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked at St Michael’s Church in Betchworth. This was our parking space for Section 13 where we took an anti-clockwise route back to pick up the Greensand Way at Dorking. This time we were on a clockwise route, starting with the Greensand Way section before looping back.

From the church the Greensand Way crosses over The Street and down Wonkam Lane. As with previous sections the Greensand Way signage is good so navigation is straightforward as long as you keep track of the signs. After 2km you’ll join the Mills and Pillboxes Trail up to Reigate Heath. You’ll pass through the golf course and up to the club house house where there’s a place to rest, an OS Trig Pillar, a great view to the North Downs and an old Windmill.

After the windmill the Greensand Way splits from the Mills and Pillboxes walk and heads south then east to the Skimmington Castle pub. The Mills and Pillboxes Trail re-connects with the Greensand Way here. Take a right after the pub to continue south again at Littleton Lane. Here you’ll be 4.1 km into the route and the end of this section of the Greensand Way.

For the return section to Betchworth follow the Mills and Pillboxes route as it curves to the south-west. At 6 km into the route leave the Mills and Pillboxes Trail and continue south, crossing the River Mole and following a path towards the south and west and across Snowerhill Road. Cross the field and, after 600m, take a path heading north. This will take you to Wellhouse Lane where you’ll take a right, following the road for ~30m before taking a left-hand path into another field. Following this path in a north/north-easterly direction into Dendy’s Wood to the east of the River Mole. When you meet Snowerhill Road gain take a left to the cross the River Mole over a narrow bridge. The road will curve to the north after the bridge and will become The Street, returning you to the start at Betchworth.