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Box Hill
Box Hill is a park near Mickleham, Surrey. We rate it Great for off-lead dog walking (76 out of 100): plenty of ground well away from roads, 22 miles of paths, some water and car park.
| Off the lead? | In parts of it |
|---|---|
| Where | Park near Mickleham, Surrey |
| Size | About 660 acres (265 ha) |
| Water for a swim | There's a river. |
| Parking | There are several car parks on or near it. |
| Livestock | At some times of year |
| Ground | It's usually firm underfoot: the ground is mostly chalk, which drains well but can be slippery when wet. |
| Shade | 77% woodland |
| Suggested loop | 2.8 miles, about 65 minutes |
What it's like
A huge park of about 660 acres, with 22 miles of paths. There's a river. It's usually firm underfoot: the ground is mostly chalk, which drains well but can be slippery when wet. Most of it is woodland, so there's plenty of shade. A main road runs close to one edge. There are several car parks on or near it.
Dogs
The landowner or council says dogs can be off the lead in parts of the site, but leads are needed in some areas. Signs on site show where.
You're responsible for your dog. Before you let it off the lead, read the signs at the entrance, look out for livestock and roads, and make sure it will come back when called.
Watch out for
- From 1 March to 31 July, dogs on the open access land here must by law be on a short lead (2 metres or less).
- Cattle or sheep graze here at some times of year. Put your dog on a lead near them.
Parking
- East Car Park · pay · Directions
- Zig Zag Car Park · Directions
- Whitehill · free · Directions
- Box Hill · pay · Directions
Suggested loop
A 2.8-mile loop from East Car Park, about 65 minutes at a dog's pace, almost all of it inside the site.
Shown dashed on the map above. Drawn by computer from OpenStreetMap paths. We haven't walked it: paths can be missing, private, closed or overgrown.
Pubs and cafés nearby
- Box Hill Servery · Café · · 0.2 mi from the car park · Directions
- Box Hill Café & Visitor Centre · Café · · 0.2 mi from the car park · Directions
- Smith & Western · Pub · · 0.3 mi from the car park · Directions
From OpenStreetMap. Dog policies only show where someone has mapped them, and they change. Run one of these? Get listed
Questions
Can dogs go off the lead at Box Hill?
The landowner or council says dogs can be off the lead in parts of the site, but leads are needed in some areas. Signs on site show where.
Is there parking at Box Hill?
There are several car parks on or near it. Parking: pay.
Can dogs swim at Box Hill?
There's a river.
Are there cows or sheep at Box Hill?
At some times of year cattle or sheep graze here. Put your dog on a lead near them.
Is Box Hill muddy?
It's usually firm underfoot: the ground is mostly chalk, which drains well but can be slippery when wet.
How long is a walk at Box Hill?
Our suggested loop is about 2.8 miles (4.5 km) from East Car Park and takes about 65 minutes at a dog's pace.
Where this comes from
National Trust asks for dogs on leads where livestock graze, with a short lead around sheep. Official pages were blocked by bot checks, so this rests on search summaries only. Dogs on short lead welcome in cafe. Swimming not addressed.
Researched online in November 2026. Nobody from Find Dog Walks has checked this place in person. Mud and shade are estimated from geology and woodland maps.
Something wrong? Open it on the map and use "Report a problem with this page", or email [email protected].
Nearby walks
More walks near Dorking, Leatherhead, or all of Surrey.