RH5 6BN
In summer, the area does get busy: you will have the least transport problem if you go by train (it also means that you can have a beer afterwards...)
Go by train:
Trains from Victoria leave every half an hour: catch one that stops at Box Hill and Westhumble station. From the station, turn right, walk down the hill to the A24. Cross with caution. Go past the Burfoot Bridget hotel with it on your right. Ryker's is on your left (toilets). The start is through the gap in the railings on your right, and up. From the station to the start is no more than about 10 minutes walk.
By car, from the North
Get off the M25 at Junction 9: follow signs for Dorking A24. After a couple of miles you'll go down a long hill and turn left at the bottom, at the roundabout. Follow the A24 for about 3 miles, past Mickleham village, round the infamous Mickleham Bends (immortalised by 10cc as 'deceptive bends' and still taking victims today), and follow along the long straight for about a mile. Start slowing down early: you will turn into the car park between the II and I markers for the roundabout - this is Ryker's car park. You have arrived.
From the East
Either use the M25, Junction 9 (and then follow instructions as for 'North'), or use the westbound A25 (Redhill, Reigate, Betchworth, Brockham etc).
In this case, when you get to the roundabout at the interection of the A25 and the A24, turn right onto the A24, and drive north.
***You'll go under the railway line, through the traffic lights, continue straight at the roundabout (past the vineyard - nice place for a meal after the run?), and drive for about 1 mile (Note the looming mass of Box Hill on your right - you are going to be running up and down this quite a lot). You are going to turn right at the roundabout next to the Burford Bridge Hotel. Then, after passing directly in front of the hotel, take the next left turn, into Ryker's car park. You have arrived.
From the West.
Either use the M25, Junction 9 (and then follow instructions as for 'North'), or use the eastbound A25 (Shere, Gomshall, Westcott etc). In this case, drive straight through Dorking, admiring the Christmas lights, and passing Dorking Halls and Leisure Centre. When you get to the roundabout at the interection of the A25 and the A24, turn left onto the A24, and drive north. Follow instructions above at ***
From the South
Either use the M25, Junction 9 (and then follow instructions as for 'North'), or use the northbound A25 (from Horsham direction). When you get to the roundabout at the interection of the A25 and the A24, go straight on along the A24, and drive north. Follow instructions at ***
Parking is available directly adjacent to the start of the run, in Ryker's car park. Limited toilet facilities are available.
From the start, you run up (120m) the imposing Burfoot slope of Box Hill. Run past the grave of de La Billiere, buried head downwards, and then turn right to descend (120m) to the footbridge at the foot of Boxhill. Turn left and cross the stepping stones, before running back up the way you came down. At the top, turn right and descend down the south face of the north downs on a narrow path. At the bottom, turn sharp left and go up the rutted shady track to the Smith and Western pub. Drinks station at the top. Cross the road, taking care, and plunge into the woods, for a mile until you emerge over a stile to Juniper and fabulous open views. Descend until you find the marshal, then re-ascend and double back along Juniper Top and descend the track along Juniper Bottom. Cross the road with care, before climbing the stairs - many stairs. Marshals will guide your through a dogleg in the woods, before you trot off along White Hill, take a turn right at the end and make a cripply descent to a drinks station. Congratulations, you are half way round. turn around, and do it all again, but this time in reverse!
Go back up to the open area of White Hill, find the dog leg (marshalled), and then run down to the huge flight of stairs down the side of the hill. Crossing the road (look out for yourself!) you will proceed up Juniper Bottom, a rustic and uneven track which steepens towards the top, over about 1.5km. Turning sharp left, you will run along Juniper Top, over the electric fence (don't worry, there is a gate), down the hill to the marshal, (taking in the very pleasant views), and back into the woods, towards what is now the Smith and Western Bar and Grill, and what used to be The Pilgrim's Rest. There will be water at this point. Crossing the road (look out for yourself!), you will again descend all of the altitude you have previously gained, and at the bottom (now on the south side of the North Downs), you will climb back up to the top of Box Hill on very narrow paths. At the top of Box Hill you will be rewarded with excellent views of Dorking, but now you have to lose all that height again, descending to the footbridge over the River Mole, running to the stepping stones, before running back over the footbridge and back up Box Hill ('the hardest run you've ever done') - keep left! At the top, the marshall will direct you to your left, where you will pass the grave of an eccentric gentleman of Dorking buried head downwards, before emerging on to the flanks of Box Hill, with gloriously open views, for the long run down to the bottom of the Zig Zag Road.
Congratulations, you are HALF of the way round.
Turn around, and do it all again.
Finish. Expire. The end.
R=Ryka's (parking, toilets, burgers, bikers), D=drink stations, S/F=start, finish, SS=stepping stones
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Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey.
Remember - do it twice!
Contour map and section courtesy of John.
Although there will be marshals on the course, runners are responsible for completing the course correctly.