Sign in Subscribe
County councils

Expanding Accessibility to the Surrey Hills National Landscape

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Surrey Hills National Landscape has become easier to access, thanks to the expansion of Surrey County Council's on-demand bus service, Surrey Connect. Beloved locations such as Leith Hill can now be reached without a car, making the county's protected landscape more accessible. The service allows passengers to book journeys from seven days to 30 minutes in advance, specifying pickup and drop-off points, number of passengers, and arrival time. With Rail to Ramble route leaflets available at local tourist information centers and railway stations, visitors can plan their journey and explore the breathtaking heritage sites of the Surrey Hills, including the National Trust's Leith Hill Place.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Surrey Connect service has been expanded to include new stops in the county, including Leith Hill Place, making it easier for visitors to access the Surrey Hills National Landscape.
  • Passengers can book journeys from seven days to 30 minutes in advance, specifying pickup and drop-off points, number of passengers, and arrival time using the Surrey Connect app or online.
  • The service can be used to travel to various locations across the county, including Virginia Water, Farnham, Haslemere, Cranleigh, Dorking, Leatherhead, Caterham, and Oxted.
  • Fares are charged based on distance traveled, starting from £2 for adults and going up to £8 for 10-12 miles.
  • The service is running from Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 8am to 6pm.
  • Rail to Ramble route leaflets are available at local tourist information centers and railway stations to help visitors plan their journey.
  • Catherine McCusker, Visitor Operations and Experiences Manager, National Trust Surrey Hills East, highlighted the challenges of accessing Leith Hill Place without a car and the benefits of the expanded Surrey Connect service.
  • Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Growth at Surrey County Council, expressed his delight at the expansion of the Surrey Connect service, which will enable visitors to travel sustainably and conveniently to Leith Hill Place.

Statistics:

  • The Surrey Connect service was first introduced in 2023 and expanded in September 2024.
  • The service can be used in much of the county, including in Virginia Water, Farnham, Haslemere, Cranleigh, Dorking, Leatherhead, Caterham, and Oxted.
  • Passengers can book journeys from seven days to 30 minutes in advance.
  • The service runs from Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm and Saturday from 8am to 6pm.
  • Fares start from £2 for adults and go up to £8 for 10-12 miles.

Sources:

  • Surrey County Council
  • National Trust Surrey Hills East
  • Grahame Larter, Surrey Advertiser
  • Christy O'Brien, SurreyLive

Read more