The Surrey Hills National Landscape is a National Landscape in Surrey, England. It comprises around one quarter of the land area of the county and principally covers parts of the North Downs and Greensand Ridge. It was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in May 1958 and was redesignated as a National Landscape in 2023. The Surrey Hills National Landscape borders the Kent Downs AONB to the east and the South Downs National Park to the south west.
Geography
The highest summit of the Surrey Hills National Landscape, Leith Hill near Coldharbour, is above sea level. It is part of the Greensand Ridge, which traverses the National Landscape from west to east, and is the second highest point in south-east England (Walbury Hill at above sea level is the highest).
Blackheath Common is also part of the area.
The northern ridge of the hills, predominantly formed by chalk, is separated from the southern ridges, which are predominantly greensand, by the Vale of Holmesdale, which continues into Kent. The North Downs provide a haven for rare plants and insects. Parts of the area are owned and managed by the National Trust, including Ranmore Common, Leith Hill and Box Hill.
Principal summits The following hills within the National Landscape have at least 30 metres of topographic prominence: HillElevationProminenceGrid referenceLeith Hill294 m (965 ft)247 mTQ139431Gibbet Hill272 m (892 ft)128 mSU899359Holmbury Hill261 m (856 ft)107 mTQ103429Pitch Hill257 m (843 ft)85 mTQ082423The Warren251 m (823 ft)33 mTQ076424Winders Hill236 m (774 ft)47 mTQ354540Reigate Hill234.7 m (770 ft)100.1 mTQ255520Dunley Hill227 m (745 ft)110 mTQ104490Box Hill224 m (735 ft)53 mTQ204517Hascombe Hill198.4 m (651 ft)111 mTQ010389Breakneck Hill189 m (620 ft)62 mSU997385Hydon's Ball181 m (594 ft)48 mSU977396St Martha's Hill175 m (574 ft)58 mTQ027483Rutton Hill167 m (548 ft)37 mSU909376Crooksbury Hill163 m (535 ft)87 mSU878459Longmoor161 m (528 ft)51 mTQ138477Sandhills155 m (509 ft)51 mSU939383Hog's Back153.9 m (505 ft)56.3 mSU950483Yewtree Nob139.6 m (458 ft)31 mTQ007412The Terrace136 m (446 ft)30 mTQ174489Bury Hill127 m (417 ft)39 mTQ155484The Devil's Jumps121 m (397 ft)34 mSU869395
The summit of Botley Hill (270 m) lies just outside the National Landscape. Other designations Chiddingfold Forest, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), lies within the area.
Surrey Hills National Landscape is surrounded by an Area of Great Landscape Value, which covers a further eight percent of the county.
Walking The Surrey Hills area has three long-distance walks running through it: the North Downs Way, the Greensand Way, and the Pilgrims' Way.
References
External links Surrey Hills AONB Inspiring Views Trail in the Surrey Hills