Painshill - Where the Walk is a Work of Art

This is a circular walk from Cobham & Stoke d’Abernon train station in Surrey (which can be reached from London Waterloo in less than 50 mins) and includes a visit to the stunning landscape of Painshill which has been described as “a walk in a work of art”. The garden was designed as a series of living paintings in the 18th Century and winding paths through the 158 acres will bring us to stunning viewpoints and fascinating garden buildings including a Crystal Grotto, Gothic Tower, Ruined Abbey, Temple of Bacchus, and Turkish Tent. 

Painshill has also been the setting for feature films such as Dorian Gray and 101 Dalmations, TV productions ranging from Bridgerton to Married at First Sight UK, and music videos for Ellie Goulding, Florence & The Machine and Jessie Ware.

Our walk from Cobham & Stoke d’Abernon train station to Painshill will largely be through countryside and along quiet lanes with far reaching views. We pass Cobham Park and Bramble Wood together with the pretty village of Downside where we shall see the small church (St Michael’s Chapel) overlooking the village green. 

Once we arrive at Painshill, the historic route around the garden is approximately 3 miles and includes a mix of made and unmade paths.  There are some spectacular views across the Vineyard and from the Gothic Tower plus plenty of birdlife to see around the Serpentine Lake. At the far end of the landscape is the Gothic Tower which you can climb to find views across four counties.

Our route back from Painshill to the train station will be different (shorter) and will pass through Cobham town centre, urban paths, and suburban areas. If you would like a drink before heading home, the Italian Coffee House is right next to the train station or the Old Plough pub on station road is a 5 min walk away. 

Entrance fee to Painshill

Painshill prefers visitors to book in advance online and it is also cheaper to do so - the standard price is £11 (£13.50 on the door). Book an arrival slot of between 12 noon and 1pm. More information can be found on their website at  Painshill is a masterpiece of garden design created in the 18th century

Is it dog friendly? Dogs are very welcome at Painshill but must be kept on a short lead at all times. Please note and abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h) and remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so please be mindful of other members.

The route

The OS route from the train station to Painshill and back may found at this link. Please note we shall be walking an additional 3 miles in Painshill itself and that route is not included here https://explore.osmaps.com/route/20462767/cobham?lat=51.321769&lon=-0.420368&zoom=13.4135&style=Standard&type=2d

New Members

Please feel free to join this as your first OutdoorLads event. If you have any questions then feel free to message me, or go to the "My First Event" section under "About Us".

Image / photo credits:  All leader's own images with permission for OutdoorLads to use and reuse

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