Carole's retirement adventures

County: Surrey

Name of high point: Leith Hill (968ft) 295m

Date completed : 15th March 2025

This walk didn’t turn out quite as expected due to a broken down campervan and no means of transport to do the planned circular walk a couple of days previously.

However, it was still an opportunity to do Surrey’s highest point with my two brothers and sisters in law on our last day in the area. We parked up on the car park leading up to Leith Hill and had a gentle stroll up to the top.

Leith Hill is a wooded hill located in the Surrey Hills, an AONB.

The hill itself has a historic role, believed to be the battleground between the Saxons and the Danes in the 9th Century. Ethelwulf, the father of Alfred the Great, took position on the slopes of the hill to win the battle preventing the Danes gaining any more conquests.

Leith Hill Tower at the top is now owned by the National Trust. It was built in 1767. There are 74 steps up a spiral staircase to the top and the views apparently stretch across London. The tower itself was shut while we were there but it was a clear day and the views were stunning from the hill top.

We could see the London Eye from this part of the hill and a 360 degree view around the surrounding countryside.

We came down a slightly different route through the woods to return to the car park.