Sheepleas
West Horsley, Guildford
A 270-acre Local Nature Reserve of woodland and chalk grassland on the North Downs above the Horsleys, bought by Surrey County Council in 1936. It is known for its orchids and butterflies, and the Millennium viewpoint looks out to the London skyline.
Highlights
- Millennium viewpoint over to London
- Twelve species of orchid and more than 30 butterfly species recorded
- Ornate Lovelace bridges from 1860
- Orchid and Hazel trails of about two miles each
Good to know
- There are no bins, so take litter and dog waste home
- Dogs should be under close control and on paths
- Bluebells in spring and wildflower meadows in summer
Getting there
Sheepleas, St Mary's Church Car Park, West Horsley, Surrey, KT24 6APParking: Free car parks at St Mary's Church (KT24 6AP), Shere Road (KT24 6EP) and Green Dene in East Horsley (KT24 5TA). 1.9-metre height barriers.
Get directionsChecked on 19 October 2026 against surreycc.gov.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
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Nearby
Photo: David Hillas, CC BY-SA 2.0Hatchlands Park
A Georgian country house built in the 1750s for Admiral Edward Boscawen, with Robert Adam ceilings and the Cobbe Collection of more than 40 keyboard instruments linked to composers such as JC Bach, Chopin and Elgar. Around it are more than 400 acres of parkland and woodland, partly landscaped by Humphry Repton.
Shere Museum
A volunteer-run museum of everyday life in the parish of Shere, Gomshall and Peaslake, in a village that appears in the Domesday Book. Several exhibitions are staged each year.
Silent Pool Distillers
A craft gin distillery beside the spring-fed Silent Pool, a small lake below the North Downs known for its clear blue water and its legend involving King John. You can taste and buy in the shop, take a guided tour or sit on the terrace overlooking the water.