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Horsell Common

2.5 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This 880 acre common in Woking is a great place for a peaceful walk. There are miles of woodland walking paths, a number of Bronze Age barrows, wet areas, ponds and protected heathland. Look out for birdlife which includes nightjar, woodlark and Dartford warbler.
The common is famous for its sand pits which were used by H.G. Wells as the site of the first Martian landing in his novel The War of the Worlds.
To extend your walking in the area you can head to the pretty Goldsworth Park Lake or pick up the Basingstoke Canal.

Postcode

GU21 4HQ - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Please click here for more information

Horsell Common OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Horsell Common Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Heather Farm Cafe is located on the common. They sell a delicous range of snacks and treats with afternoon tea also available. You can find them on Chobham Road with postcode GU21 4XY for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The common is a fine place for dog walking so you'll probably see plenty of other owners on your visit. They are not allowed in the fenced wetland area and easy access path around the pond and waterfowl nesting areas at Heather Farm. The Heather Farm Cafe mentioned above is dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

For more walking ideas in the area see the Surrey Walks page.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Horsell Common - geograph.org.uk - 1921659

Car park and information board detailing the flora and fauna you can see at the site.

Danewell Pond on Horsell Common - geograph.org.uk - 168237

Danewell Pond on Horsell Common. Fresh foliage of oak and birch on trees around the lake.

Heathland and birch tree, Horsell Common - geograph.org.uk - 168433

Heathland and birch tree, Horsell Common

Pond and sandpit, Horsell Common - site for "The War of the Worlds" - geograph.org.uk - 168459

Pond and sandpit - site for "The War of the Worlds" by H.G. Wells, a "shooting star" falls:
“"It'’s out on Horsell Common now.” “Good Lord!” said Henderson. “Fallen meteorite! That’s good.” But it’s something more than a meteorite. It’s a cylinder --an artificial cylinder, man! And there’s something inside.”"

Horsell Common - geograph.org.uk - 1921266

Clearing in the woods

Woking's Martian. - geograph.org.uk - 601372

Woking's Martian. Close-up detail of the metal sculpture in Chobham Road, Woking.

Horsell Common, Woking - geograph.org.uk - 1840236

Gorse on the common.

Woking - Peace Memorial Garden (geograph 5263365)

Peace Memorial Garden. Refurbished 2015, this garden was formerly known as the Muslim Burial Ground and dedicated to all the Muslim soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in WW1 and WW2.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Horsell Common.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Horsell Common.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)