On Easter Sunday, I spent some quality time enjoying a bit challenging yet very rewarding hike in the area of Leith Hill in Surrey. The weather was fantastic, and I had some opportunities to take some photos along the way.
Dorking
After taking a train from London Bridge, we arrived in Dorking and started walking through the town towards the hills on the southern side.
It would’ve been a bit boring if it weren’t for a couple of young sheep enjoying sunny weather and offering the opportunity for some interesting shots.
![Pair of sheep, calmly posing on the small meadow in the middle of Dorking](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-sheep-1.BuWCk2nS_Z2t6fwe.jpeg)
![Pair of sheep, calmly posing on the small meadow in the middle of Dorkin](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-sheep-2.hPaKfNnp_ZsWR3T.jpeg)
After around 40 minutes, we finally left the last town building behind us and entered the woods. But one last quick turnaround revealed some lovely views:
![A view towards outskirts of Dorking, Surrey, UK](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-dorking-outskirts.Dh2ul3AT_ZNoBrb.jpeg)
Hiking towards Leith Hill
![Gentle & green meadows on the path, south of Dorking](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-1.rFnTC1F-_Z5ykUt.jpeg)
Up until noon, we hiked through gentle meadows, woods and occasionally short but steep hills towards the Leith Hill - the highest hill in the area.
![Woodland path inviting to wander. Unfortunately not on our way](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-3.DdclyVSQ_Z2gyvxJ.jpeg)
![Its spring in full season! A field of Forget-Me-Not flowers was blooming in someone's backyard](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-4a.B6rhJuLf_Z1D6d2F.jpeg)
If you look closely and carefully, there is beauty to be found in many details of the surroundings.
![Just a bench to rest and admire the view](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-2.C3QNOlwY_ZFfO3L.jpeg)
![Stunning texture and shapes on this collapsed tree](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-6.B8T6NodG_Z1MJG93.jpeg)
But it can also be sometimes odd or scary:
![A bit of spooky part, passing by some bogs](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-5.6HA1dzQZ_Z11GXr8.jpeg)
![Some old, weirdly shaped and twisted tree](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-5b.u79rsuuT_H3gnY.jpeg)
But also very beautiful, with rural, pretty views like this:
![A very picturesque-looking house with beautiful patch of Forget-Me-Not flowers in front](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-rural-home-2.BvKdc7Sx_2bRAiB.jpeg)
![Another stunning cottage passed on the route](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-rural-home-1.Dkv7qabw_Z2poxEV.jpeg)
![The Old Mill House, Westcott, Surrey - (note, we passed the mill house much later on the route)](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-rural-home-4.0wSODWyd_Z1k3CEC.jpeg)
Back from Leith Hill
After a stop for a lunch break at Leith Hill (from which, sadly, I don’t have any good photos we left for 2nd part of the hike. We’ve been marching north across Whiteberry Road through the woods of Wotton Common.
![Bluebells flowers flowering in the spring](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-flowers-1.DIMFa2AX_Z183Nb0.jpeg)
![Old, mossy tree trunk surrounded by a beautiful field of Bluebells](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-flowers-2.CnP_T8_g_ZhXthz.jpeg)
The trail (and Fate, our excellent trail leader) leads through some farming fields. We diagonally cut through the area. I can only dream of what this could look like in the summer.
![Our hiking group (Outdooraholics) going through the field](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-hiking-group.BIUpqTrE_Lq0N4.jpeg)
After some time, we reach Tilling Springs - a gentle but surprisingly tall waterfall sourcing Tillingbourne River.
![Tilling Springs waterfall is stretching vertically with several cascades](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-tilling-springs.Cky3XpFZ_1s5tRW.jpeg)
Denbies Wine Estate
![Pretty view towards Guildford from the hills of Ranmore Common](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-vineyard-1.MbAfLMtv_Z27RsVY.jpeg)
Finally, after a strenuous climb, crossing the rail line connecting Guildford & Dorking, we reach higher ground. We admire stunning views over fields surrounding Dorking and the vineyard: Denbies Wine Estate, the largest vineyard in England.
![Gentle slopes of Denbies Wine Estate vineyard with some houses of Dorking in the back](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-vineyard-2.CDQpukr3_ZB4yhC.jpeg)
![A view over Denbies Wine Estate with Box Hill in the background, Dorking, Surrey, UK](/_astro/leith-hill-hike-in-surrey-vineyard-3.DpdHDauO_Z2fBq1B.jpeg)
It was a lovely walk. My feet are sore today, but that’s a good feeling!
Until next time!