Monday 30 October 2017

Walking in Box Hill

Stunning views and amazing wildlife

I visited Box Hill for great scenic walks and stunning views. An outstanding area of woodland. My walking started from Stepping Stone Walk to Salomons Memorial, Box Hill Fort, Broadwood's Tower and back to Burford Meadow with Stepping Stones Walk. Beautiful view foe river Mole and steps there made me so exited. It was a lovely walk down to the River Mole and back up. I was tired after work during night but it was worth of this view. The weather was beautiful this day. I met a lot of people during my walking. I met workers National Trust close to Broadwood's Tower. They were very friendly and agree to take a break there. It was very nice. I took the break there enjoying the view. I walked down after short time to Buford Meadow and Stepping Stone Walk where my walking started. It is so nice to meet people and admire the view with them. I spent wonderful day outdoor.

you can find more walking paths here; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill

Footbridge

The Stepping Stones are an iconic landmark in this part of Surrey and they're a perfect spot to stop and watch the river flow by.

A ford across the River Mole is thought to have existed here since prehistoric times. The way-pole was a notched post secured in the riverbed, to indicate the depth of the water. Stepping stones at this site are first recorded in 1841 and they may have been installed by an owner of Burford Lodge to facilitate access to the Weypole orchard. The current stones were dedicated in September 1946 by the then Prime Minister Clement Attlee, replacing those destroyed during World War 2 as an anti-invasion measure. The spot is popular with both anglers and families, although swimming is strongly discouraged. The stones give their name to the pub in the nearby village of Westhumble.

They didn't have to walk through the Stepping Stones

The path led through the forest stairs

a lot of rooted tree roots

I was so happy to be on the top. Walking up the forest stairs made me so tired but happy

Salomons Memorial, Box Hill

The monument to Leopold Salomon, who in 1914 donated the 94 hectares of Box Hill to the National Trust, now receives over a million visitors a year. Due to this level of attraction, the monument and surrounding pathways were starting to show their age. To mark the 100th anniversary funding was approved to refurbish the monument.

The view from Salomons Memorial [sorry it isn't good photo but the view wonderful]

Box Hill Fort

The Old Fort is one of 13 mobilisation centres (known collectively as the London Defence Positions) built in the 1890s to protect London from invasion from continental Europe. The six acre site of the fort was originally purchased by the Ministry of Defence in 1891, and construction began in 1896. Box Hill fort was laid out in the form of an infantry redoubt, typical of the period, but also included magazines for the storage of artillery ammunition. (In common with the majority of the twelve other mobilisation centres, the Box Hill fort was designed for the use of the infantry only and the stored ammunition was intended for the use of mobile field artillery which would be deployed nearby as required.) A reform of defence policy by the Secretary of War Viscount Haldane in 1905 resulted in all 13 centres being declared redundant, and Box Hill Fort was sold back to the estate trustees in 1908

Broadwood's Folly

The circular flint tower located on the northern tip of Lodge Hill was built for the piano maker Thomas Broadwood, who purchased Juniper Hall in 1815.