Reigate and Banstead Millennium Trail

The Reigate and Banstead Millennium Trail is 30.62 km long with 458 m of total ascent, so it fits either a long day hike or an easy two-day outing. The route is commonly described as a Banstead Downs to Horley walk, and local trail information also notes that it has been split into north and south sections for more manageable stages.

The Reigate and Banstead Millennium Trail is generally walked as a linear route from Banstead Downs in the north to Riverside Garden Park in Horley in the south. Along the way it passes places including Chipstead, the North Downs Way near Gatton, Reigate Hill, Colley Hill, Earlswood Common and Salfords before reaching Horley.

The Reigate and Banstead Millennium Trail is rated easy, although the full route still covers 30.62 km and climbs 458 m in total. Most hikers find the challenge comes more from the distance than from steep or technical ground, with the trail crossing a mix of downland, commons and suburban-edge paths rather than mountain terrain.

Yes. The route is well suited to public transport because it is a linear trail with rail links at both ends and along the way. Local trail descriptions note Tattenham Corner as the nearest station to the start near Banstead Downs, while the southern half stays close to stations on the Gatwick line, making it practical to join or leave the trail in sections.

Dogs can be walked on the Reigate and Banstead Millennium Trail, but local dog control rules apply in several open spaces along the route. In Reigate and Banstead borough, Public Space Protection Orders regulate dog fouling, dogs on lead by direction and the number of dogs one person may walk, and at Earlswood Common dogs must be kept on leads in the car park and on the paths around the lakes.

The Reigate and Banstead Millennium Trail crosses a varied mix of heaths, downland and commons between the edge of Greater London and the countryside south toward Horley. Notable sections include the North Downs Way near Gatton, Reigate Hill and Colley Hill for broad views, then the Greensand Way and Earlswood Common farther south.