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St John's Lye West
St John's Lye West is a common near Hook Heath, Surrey. We rate it Good for off-lead dog walking (62 out of 100): 2.6 miles of paths, some water and car park.
| Off the lead? | No rules found: check the signs |
|---|---|
| Where | Common near Hook Heath, Surrey |
| Size | About 61 acres (25 ha) |
| Water for a swim | There's a canal. |
| Parking | There are several car parks on or near it. |
| Livestock | None known |
| Ground | It's usually firm underfoot: the ground is mostly sandy soil that drains quickly. |
| Shade | 77% woodland |
| Suggested loop | 1.4 miles, about 35 minutes |
What it's like
A good-sized common of about 61 acres, with 2.6 miles of paths. There's a canal. It's usually firm underfoot: the ground is mostly sandy soil that drains quickly. Most of it is woodland, so there's plenty of shade. It's well away from main roads. There are several car parks on or near it.
Dogs
We couldn't find any published rules about dogs here. That doesn't mean there aren't any, so check the signs when you arrive.
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).
Parking
- Car park · free · Directions
- Car park · 8 m from the edge · Directions
- Car park · 18 m from the edge · Directions
- Car park · free · 78 m from the edge · Directions
Suggested loop
A 1.4-mile loop from the car park, about 35 minutes at a dog's pace, almost all of it inside the site. About 290 m of it is on lanes or drives that cars use.
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
- Bem Coffee Shop · Café · · 0.1 mi from the car park · Directions
- The Rowbarge · Pub · · 0.2 mi from the car park · Directions
- Fox & Flowerpot · Pub · · 0.5 mi from the car park · Directions
- The Surrey · Pub · · 0.6 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 St John's Lye West?
We couldn't find any published rules about dogs here. That doesn't mean there aren't any, so check the signs when you arrive.
Is there parking at St John's Lye West?
There are several car parks on or near it. Parking: free.
Can dogs swim at St John's Lye West?
There's a canal.
Are there cows or sheep at St John's Lye West?
We don't know of any grazing livestock, but check the signs and fields when you arrive.
Is St John's Lye West muddy?
It's usually firm underfoot: the ground is mostly sandy soil that drains quickly.
How long is a walk at St John's Lye West?
Our suggested loop is about 1.4 miles (2.2 km) from the car park and takes about 35 minutes at a dog's pace.
Where this comes from
Woking council-owned common. Only a low-authority directory calls it dog-friendly; no official dog rules or grazing found. Ecology report mentions scrub and woodland encroachment, no grazing. Council site returned 403.
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 Woking, Lightwater, or all of Surrey.