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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?