National Trust - Box Hill Reviews Summary

Views and Scenery

Pros:

• "The different routes allow you to take in some of Surrey's finest views."
• "You can see for miles with Amazing views. Amazing wildlife, including deer, wild rabbits, all kinds of birds, foxes, badgers and more."
• "Extensive views over Dorking and the Surrey countryside."
• "Fantastic views, very picturesque."
• "Beautiful, scenic views from the top viewing point."
• "Such a beautiful park, great for lovers of long walks and nature; especially when the weather is pleasant."
• "Superb Views of Classic English Countryside...over the the Beautiful North Downs."

Cons:

• "But it can get very busy and also you can hear the local traffic."
• "The only annoyed factor was the ice-cream shop that quite pricey compared to the quantity."
• "The landscapes around Box Hill are pretty but not 'super wow pretty' (at least based on the routes we visited."
• "Full of club bikers roaring up and down, deafening."
• "Bikers parked all along a not parking area, making a single track road impossible to drive down."
• "The only thing that let it down, despite the best efforts of the trust to make it an enjoyable experience for all, people have dropped their litter on the trails. That spoils it for everyone. So DON'T DO IT!"
• "I was taking aback by the amount of rubbish. The bins around the car park were overflowing."

Accessibility and Parking

Pros:

• "Only a stone's throw from London and very accessible in terms of transport it’s a gem of a hiking spot!"
• "Free parking will be almost full on a nice day, so prepare early. Paid parking is available for national trust membership for free."
• "Get a national trust membership as then parking is free."
• "There is even an option to get here by bus, which stops around 5 minutes from the trail entrance."
• "Car park free for NT members."
• "Access by car is easy and ample parking is available."
• "There’s a large car park, free to national trust members, otherwise pay and display."

Cons:

• "Gets very busy at the weekend."
• "Car parks get full quickly."
• "It gets quite packed during the weekends these days."
• "Parking can be a bit of a hassle."
• "Parking spaces at the bottom of the hill at stepping stones car park is limited."
• "Aside from the millions of cyclists and it being terribly difficult to park at the weekend (in the small National Trust car park)."
• "You’ll spend a long time trying to get a parking space on a hot day and if you do get a space you’ll still have to pay for it."

Facilities and Services

Pros:

• "The visitors' centre provides both a cafeteria and gift shop."
• "Good facilities at the top including cafe and toilets."
• "Cafe and coffee shop available as well as free, well maintained bathrooms."
• "Even has well maintained toilets, parking is also reasonable and a small café."
• "There are toilets, a cafe and a snack truck at the main car park at the top of the hill, a short walk from the viewpoint."
• "Free parking for National Trust members, clean bathrooms and a small cafe onsite."
• "Toilets by the National trust point at the top of Zig Zag road."

Cons:

• "The coffee is not great though."
• "The cake was disappointing but typical NT cake."
• "Lovely cafe, although gets very busy and prices are fairly expensive."
• "The cafe only serves snacks and drinks, no lunches, so get your own food."
• "Dropped a star due to the cafe being below average in various ways."
• "Queues for Drinks and Hot Food, can be a little while (15- 20 minutes)."
• "The toilets all had broken locks.. made things a little awkward!"

Trails and Hiking Experience

Pros:

• "A great place to walk with views and guided paths."
• "Very fun things to do and trails to hike on."
• "Beautiful place with a variety of trails available for hiking, running and cycling to suit all skill levels."
• "The red route hike was pleasant and clearly marked."
• "Great place for a family picnic and an adventurous walk."
• "Good variety of trails."
• "Offering plenty of varied walks to challenge beginners and more experienced walkers."

Cons:

• "I did the Box Hill hike, which is about 8 miles and the most challenging of all the routes (not ideal for kids)."
• "Absolute slow going up on bike. Not particularly pleasant on the roads as they were jam-packed with cars and motorcycles."
• "The steps on the way down are pretty steep, (I wouldn't fancy walking back up them)."
• "This walk is not for the faint hearted ensure you have decent footwear as it can be a bit slippy."
• "The walk is extremely muddy if you're going in the winter or after a lot of bad weather so expect the worst and prepare!"
• "Steep descent down lots of slippery steps."
• "The box hill route can be quite tough especially with the steep staircases and downhills."