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Visit Mole Valley

Situated halfway between London and the South Coast, Mole Valley offers a perfect blend of culture, charm and endless countryside.

09/10/2026

The Six Bells in Newdigate is a pub with a difference.

Recently reopened at the heart of the village, the historic 16th-century pub is newly managed by a local couple who are determined to instil it with honest service, a relaxed and warm proper welcome, and a sense of community that filters through everything they do.

Working with local producers, breweries and suppliers has also been key to building up strong drinks and bar snacks menus, whilst a growing offering of exciting events has already proved popular with locals and visitors alike.

Offering beams, ancient brickwork and cosy charm in abundance, The Six Bells is certainly a Mole Valley pub to add to your to-visit list this autumn.

06/10/2026

🥾 Trail to try... Abinger Villages, Holmbury-St-Mary Trail

Featuring not one but three beautiful Mole Valley villages – Sutton Abinger, Abinger Common (said to be the oldest village in England) and Holmbury-St-Mary - this trail is the perfect choice for an autumn day.

Setting off on a meandering path through towering pine forests, expect rugged heathland, autumn leaves, fields, characterful cottages and Surrey Hills views, as you explore some of the area's prettiest far-flung spots on this varied 5.5 mile route.

Featuring some excellent country pubs, consider stopping at The Abinger Hatch in Abinger Common opposite the village stocks and St James Church or Holmbury-St-Mary’s The Royal Oak - Holmbury St Mary for refreshments along the way.

For this trail and more autumn walk ideas, see visitmolevalley.co.uk/eight-autumn-walks.

04/10/2026

Did you know...

The village of Holmbury St Mary is known by many as 'Little Switzerland'.

The picturesque community is nestled at the heart of the Surrey Hills, surrounded by steep pine-clad slopes and thick forests, which frame the natural ravine that forms the village centre.

Home to pretty cottages, some with an alpine feel, Holmbury St Mary is named after St Mary the Virgin Church, built by renowned architect George Edmund Street, whose wife referred to the village as 'Heaven's Gate'.

Have you ever visited Holmbury St Mary? Do you have any interesting tales to tell or local recommendations? Let us know by sharing in the comments!

02/10/2026

🥾 Trail to try... Bookham Commons Activity Trail

With woodlands, grasslands, ponds and wetlands, Bookham Commons are a haven for wildlife and what better time to explore than autumn, as many species are readying themselves for hibernation season.

The easy dog-friendly 3-mile National Trust - Surrey Hills Bookham Commons Activity Trail is suitable for all the family and features a bird hide, where moorhens, coots and mallards can often be seen paddling and herons and kingfishers visit during autumn, and the Hundred Pound Bridge – perfect for playing Pooh Sticks!

Take a stroll into Bookham village following your walk to stroll the characterful centre and to enjoy refreshments at The Royal Oak in Bookham or The Old Crown, Great Bookham, or one of the many other excellent eateries.

For this trail and more autumn walk ideas, see visitmolevalley.co.uk/eight-autumn-walks.

📷: ©National Trust Images / John Miller

30/09/2026

Mole Valley Arts Alive - Surrey's biggest inclusive, multi-venue community arts festival - starts tomorrow!

Taking place across the region from 1-31 October, the festival will see Mole Valley come alive with a wide array of exciting and inspiring art events, with something for every age, ability and interest.

With more than 100 events taking place throughout the month, discover shows, exhibitions and workshops in the fields of music, theatre, author events, children’s dance, creative writing, film, painting, poetry, street art, crafting and more!

Here are just some of the brilliant upcoming events that you can look forward to in October:

🎻 Dorking Chamber Orchestra – Classical Treasures – Mozart, Beethoven & Schubert - 10 October
🎨 The Arts Society Leatherhead lecture: The Evolution of Street Art - 14 October
🎤 Song Tracks - 15 October
🎧 Surrey Hills Community Radio – Radio Studio Open Day - 17 October
🖼 Leatherhead Art Club – Autumn Exhibition - 19 October
🦄 Myths, Magic and Making - Lisa Mellows Illustration - 20 October
🐝 The Art of Beeswax Candle Making – The Wild Bee Co. - 24 October
🎃 DAHA The Mole Valley Squash and Pumpkin Show - 31 October

To learn more and to book one of the events, visit arts-alive.co.uk.

25/09/2026

With autumn bringing fresh sunny days and colourful leaves brightening boughs above and carpeting forest floors below, now is the ideal time to get out into the Surrey Hills for an invigorating autumn walk 🍂

The new season is also the perfect time to discover a cosy cafe or country pub in Mole Valley – with log burners lit and fireplaces flickering, settle down for a drink or hearty lunch as the perfect pick-me-up combined with trying a new trail 🥾

We’ve rounded up some of our very favourite autumn walks with perfect pub and cafe stops, read our new Inspiration article for ideas - linked in comments.

📷: First image (c) National Trust images / John Miller

23/09/2026

It's the first day of autumn and what better place to spend the season than Mole Valley 🍂

With the perfect blend of town and country, we're situated at the heart of the Surrey Hills but also just a stone's throw from the capital.

Whether you're dreaming of cosy country pubs, historic market towns, crisp countryside walks, quaint villages or stunning Surrey Hills views, we've got all this and more waiting to welcome you this autumn in Mole Valley.

We’re just an hour from London - yet a world away...

Find out more at visitmolevalley.co.uk.

20/09/2026

Welcome to Ockley!

Arriving into the pretty village of Ockley near Dorking, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stepped into the pages of a picture book. The expansive village green, framed by charming cottages, is blanketed with buttercups in springtime and year-round is home home to the picturesque well and pump, views beyond of the stunning Surrey Hills and quintessentially English games of cricket when the season permits.

The perfect place to begin and end a walk in the surrounding countryside, a visit to the village is not complete without a relaxed drink or food in the popular The Cricketers Arms - Ockley and a stop at the delightful 14th-century, St Margaret's Church. Food lovers should not miss out on the brilliant Village Greens Farm Shop in Coles Lane, as well as the regular Ockley Farmers Market, with another visitor highlight the nearby The Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden, a treasure trove of contemporary sculptures within a magical landscape.

If you know Ockley, we'd love for you to share what you love about the village in the comments, or any local recommendations with others.

To learn more about Ockley and discover some of the businesses and things to see and do, visit: visitmolevalley.co.uk/ockley.

18/09/2026

A visit to Box Hill, one of the highlights of the Surrey Hills, is so much more than just the popular viewpoint.

A central part of Box Hill's rich history, yet a hidden gem just a stone's throw from the famous Salomons Memorial viewpoint, is the 19th-century military fortification of National Trust - Surrey Hills' Box Hill Fort.

This brick flat-roofed building with firing holes was built bunker-style into an earth bank, also benefitting from a below-ground am******on store. Constructed during a time when there were growing fears that London could be open to invasion from the sea, the fort formed part of the London Defence Positions, a line of 13 mobilisation centres along the North Downs.

Today, the fort is not open to the public, but you can enjoy walking around the outside as part of a visit to Box Hill for a chance to immerse yourself in the military history of the hill and its surroundings.

Have you ever visited Box Hill Fort? Let us know in the comments and to learn more, visit: visitmolevalley.co.uk/box-hill-fort.

📷: © National Trust Images - Andrew Wright

15/09/2026

With summer slowly slipping into autumn, it's the perfect time to add a unique food and drink experience to your diary. Here's three of our favourites that you can book now for some early autumn fun:

✨ Speakeasy Supper Club from Therubysupperclub, Saturday 26 September ~ Enjoy an atmospheric long-form dining experience with an intimate, candlelit evening of Anglo-Indian food paired with a speakeasy mood. Expect low lighting, lavish dishes, lingering conversation and a late-night curated lounge soundtrack.

✨ Rum Tasting Experience from Nautilus Gin Experiences at Charlie & Ginger, Saturday 17 October ~ Travel back to the 17th Century with spirits and drinking history expert Simon Sharp and embark on a voyage through the history of rum. Think storytelling, rum tastings, cocktail making and a Caribbean BBQ!

✨ Italian Night from 51 Degrees North - Mickleham, Friday 30 October ~ Experience la dolce vita at this fun and friendly themed night of delicious food and live music. Look forward to four courses of incredible Italian food and music providing the ambiance from the talented Rita Over.

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