Tillingbourne Waterfall and Leith Hill Tower

This circular walk close to Abinger provides a good way to explore the countryside using a section of Greensand Way leading to Leith Hill Tower. You will enjoy quiet paths and tracks in the woods, along River Tillingourne and great views from Leith Hill!

Technical sheet

4310606
A Abinger walk posted on 03/11/20 by charentimoy. Last update : 20/04/22
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.70 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 189 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 189 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 293 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 139 m
Sunny day at Leith Hill Tower!
Wooden Sculpture next to Leith Hill Tower
Nice view to the South from Leith Hill
Leith Hill Tower

Description

Park your car at Friday Street car park (Road to Mill Pond from Abinger).

(S/E) From the car park, go down the path which reaches the road and continue down the road until you reach Mill Pond. From the pond, leave the road and bear left heading to the "Private Property" signpost with footpath access.

(1) Go past properties including "Yew Tree Cottage" until you reach a stone bridge.
Bear right, go through the gate with a yellow arrow and "No cycles" sign and ascend the public footpath. After it levels, ignore a path on the left and continue straight. Then, walk along the fence and a field until you reach Sheephouse Lane. Cross it over, go through the gate. The path quickly goes down and becomes a bit steep (be careful, it can be very slippery when wet!). Past again a stile, you finally reach a track and a "public footpath" signpost.

(2) Bear right, follow this main track which leads to Tillingbourne Waterfall after 550 metres. Next to Punk Cottage, turn left to the track in the woods (private road with footpath and bridleway access). Ignore Simon Cottage on the left until the next fork with Henman Bunkhouse (NT), bear right and follow the bridleway until you reach a second fork. Bear again right following Warren Farm direction signpost.

(3) Go past the farm, ignore a footpath on the right and continue straight when you see the blue arrow. From now on, go straight ahead this main bridleway (Greensand Way) for almost one mile ignoring both left and right paths until you reach a large barrier and Leith Hill Tower signpost.

(4) Past the barrier, ascend the pretty steep section (green arrow sign) for 200 metres which leads to the tower built in 1765. Notice that the top Leith Hill Tower marks the highest point in South East England at 313 metres!
Admire the view of the valley. On clear days, you can even enjoy the view of London, its buildings to the North and the English Channel to the South!

(5) After the tower, follow "Straveall Corner Car Park" and go past a beautiful wood sculpture on your left. When you reach a signpost with 5 arrows signs, bear right following the light blue arrow which leads to a fork. At this fork, ignore the yellow arrow on the right but bear left still following the light blue arrow until you reach Leith Hill Road.

(6) Cross over the road heading to the green arrow and continue down the path in the woods. Then, ignore the path on the right at the first junction but turn right (bridleway) at the second one after 50 metres.
You finally reach a small section on a track before you bear left at "High Ashes Farm" signpost.

(7) After 350 metres you will see a metallic barrier with "No horse riding" and "No cycling" sign. Bear right, go through the gate and skirt the huge beech tree by the right side. Continue the path which joins a larger track. Pay attention because the next section with narrow paths in the woods is not well marked!

(8) Turn left when you see a wooden signpost with a yellow arrow on the opposite side (hidden from your side). After 150 metres, follow the path with a yellow arrow along the fence and the meadow which leads to the hamlet. Walk the driveway going past properties including "Gable End" before you turn right to the small path in the woods next to the football field.

(9) Cros over Pasture Wood Road, go straight ahead going through the gate in front of you. Keep the main large track for 400 metres before you turn right at the right angle at the T-junction (slightly up). Then, continue straight the large path ignoring both left and right paths until you see a fence in front of you.

(10) Head to the fence and follow the footpath ("No cycling" sign) between fences along the meadow on your right. After 200 metres, you reach Abinger Lane. Cross it over going straight to the grassy track which quickly leads to Hollow Lane. Cross over the second Lane to the narrow path in front of you.

(11) Continue straight this path for 350 metres until you join a junction with many ways in a tree cutting area. Leave the first track on your left but take the second one which goes up leading to Friday Street car park after 250 metres.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 177 m - Friday Street car park
  2. 1 : km 0.65 - alt. 146 m - Stone bridge
  3. 2 : km 2.22 - alt. 159 m - Tillingbourne Waterfall
  4. 3 : km 3.48 - alt. 193 m - Warren Farm
  5. 4 : km 5.1 - alt. 272 m - Barrier and Leith Hihh Tower signpost
  6. 5 : km 5.4 - alt. 287 m - Leith Hill Tower
  7. 6 : km 6.42 - alt. 251 m - Leith Hill Road
  8. 7 : km 7.3 - alt. 208 m - Metallic barrier slightly up
  9. 8 : km 7.95 - alt. 228 m - Wooden signpost
  10. 9 : km 9.03 - alt. 209 m - Pasture Wood Road
  11. 10 : km 9.73 - alt. 183 m - Footpath between fences
  12. 11 : km 10.39 - alt. 180 m - Large junction
  13. S/E : km 10.7 - alt. 177 m - Friday Street car park

Useful Information

Apart from the café at Leith Hill Tower there are no shops or places to get refreshments on the route itself, so go prepared.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

During the walk or to do/see around

The views from Leith Hill Tower are spectacular (on a clear day) and there are plenty of interesting spots on the way round.

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Clarity of route description
5 / 5
Clarity of route map
5 / 5
Walk interest
5 / 5
MarkW
MarkW

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 15/04/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A nice circular walk around the Leith Hill area.
The views from Leith Hill Tower are spectacular (on a clear day) and there are plenty of interesting spots on the way round.
We started from Leith Hill Tower and followed the route clockwise. It was easy to follow with no problems.
Once you leave the Leith Hill Tower area it is very quiet with not many people around.
Apart from the café at Leith Hill Tower there are no shops or places to get refreshments on the route itself, so go prepared.
As mentioned in the route description, there are some short sections which are quite steep, both downhill and uphill.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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