Events

Walk Off Your Christmas Pudding walk around Gatton Park Estate (East Surrey)

27th December 2024, 10:30 - 13:00

FREE WALK

FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2024

10.30am start – 1pm finish

Gatton Park Estate, Reigate

Come and join us for our annual walk to shake down the Christmas Pudding.

The walk will take us around the Gatton Park Estate and along to Reigate Fort. The walk is about 3.5 miles long but includes some steep slopes, but with the reward of some exhilarating views across Reigate and the Surrey Weald.

Gatton was landscaped by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th Century. A deer Park existed here back in the 12th Century and a Manor was formed in the mid 1400’s. Last privately owned by the Colman (mustard) family, the house was gutted by fire in 1934 but then rebuilt by Sir Jeremiah Coleman, who lived there until his death in 1942. In 1948 the Estate was sold to the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, and part of the park was subsequently acquired by the National Trust in 1952. Today the park has formal gardens and lakes, a stone circle built to celebrate the Millenium, a Church (St Andrew’s), and the school is the second largest state boarding school in the UK, with over 400 boarders.

Reigate Fort was built in 1898, as part of the London Defence Scheme, designed to defend London from the French if they invaded. Several of the buildings are still intact. The site is managed by the National Trust.

This walk is classed as Moderate and is suitable for those with a reasonable level of fitness.  It has some steep slopes and is unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs

Toilets and a cafeteria are available as we walk towards Reigate Fort, about halfway around the route. Those that do not want to walk to the Fort, can wait at the café.

Dogs are welcome but will need to remain on the lead.

Please dress appropriate to the weather conditions (eg hat/warm fleece/waterproofs) and strong footwear is recommended as it may be muddy in places.

The event is free but booking is essential. If you wish to join us, please register by using the brown button below and full details will be sent to you nearer the time.

Meet:  Exact details will be sent with confirmation of booking.
Post code: RH2 0TD
what3words: ///wiring.device.gets
Ordnance Survey map reference: TQ275530

Deadline for booking is 22 December 2024

Any enquiries please contact us at info@surreyhillssociety.org.

By continuing and making a booking you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to the Terms & Conditions specified in our Cancellation Policy and Responsibility Statement, both of which can be viewed by clicking here