Walk 18th March 2016 Polesden Lacey - Westhumble - Denbies - Ranmore Common - Yew Tree farm

Start point :- TQ133523

Distance 10.52 km; 6.54 miles

Time taken:- 2 hours 16 minutes

Route:-

Polesden Lacey CP - ChapelHill Wood - Beech - NDW - Denbies -Ranmore Common Church - Viewpoint - Hillside path - NDW - Yewtree Farm - Big High Grove - CP

This is a walk I will be leading next Wednesday for Mole Valley Ramblers. This walk has many views and I hope for good sunny weather to show it off at its best. Views include - London, Crabtree cottages, Westhumble, Boxhill, Denbies vineyard, Dorking, Leith Hill and Polesden Lacey house.

Polesden Lacey - an Edwardian house now owned by the National Trust. The house was remodeled in 1906 by Margaret Greville. There have been houses in this location since 1336, Antony Rous bought the estate in 1630 and rebuilt the medieval house. Richard Sheridan bought the house in 1804. And later after Joseph Bonsor bought the house he commissioned an entirely new property which forms the core of the current building. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polesden_Lacey

Walking the footpath through the Beeches you get a view of Westhumble and surrounding valley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westhumble

Denbies vineyard - 265 acres on of the largest vineyards in England. The estate takes its name from the original owner John Denby  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denbies_Wine_Estate The original buildings were bought by Thomas Cubitt remaining in the Cubitt's family ownership till the second World War. Now owned by Adrian White.

St Barnabus church and old school on Ranmore Common, George Cubitt commissioned George Scott to design the church and school house completed in 1859. His design was "high victoriana" - a scaled down cathedral to serve the workers and families on the estate.  http://www.achurchnearyou.com/documents/2011-12-12_26638_1323723107.pdf