The Best Things To Do In and Around Ewhurst

Think of a picture-postcard English village and the chances are you will be picturing Ewhurst.

With a thriving village community, glorious Surrey countryside on its doorstep and bustling Guildford a near neighbour, it is easy to see why musicians Eric Clapton, Mike Rutherford, Kenny Jones and Gary Brooker have made it their home.

And in this blog post, you can discover some of the things that make living in Ewhurst such a joy.

Food and Drink

Pubs and Restaurants

There are some splendid dining options near Ewhurst. Here are six of our favourites.

1. Housed in what were originally two 17th-century cottages on the Netley Estate, Kinghams Restaurant in Shere is full of character and charm and is a two-time winner of Surrey Life’s Restaurant of the Year Award.

2. On Cranleigh’s High Street, you will find The Richard Onslow, a classic English village inn which has preserved all the period charm of its old timber-framed building. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, it has an extensive gluten-free menu as well as a good selection of children’s food.

3. With traditional flagstone flooring and wooden beams, Shamley Green’s Red Lion Inn is a family- and dog-friendly pub with a beautiful dining room and spacious beer garden and patio. The pub overlooks the village green, so you can sit watching the world go by or perhaps take in a few overs of cricket.

4. Overlooking the open fields of northwest Sussex, The Sir Roger Tichborne in Alton Bars has a cosy fireside for the winter and a lovely garden for the summer. It serves a wide selection of craft beers and ales and a three-course menu including pub classics.

5. The William Bray in Shere has a small sunny terrace, a manicured garden and a conservatory to go with its well-stocked bar and stylish dining room. On its daily specials board you will find dishes such as pan-fried octopus salad, and calves’ liver on sourdough toast.

6. Winner of various awards, including best pub in Surrey at the National Pub & Bar Awards 2018, the beautiful timber-framed Gomshall Mill on the River Tillingbourne dates from medieval times. If you are a walker, why not work up a thirst and an appetite on the Gomshall Mill and Netley Park circular walk created by AllTrails?

Food Shopping

Ewhurst is less than a ten-minute drive from Cranleigh, which hosts a weekly market on Thursdays in the car park of Cranleigh Leisure Centre. Stalls include fruit and veg, fish, meat and artisan food.

Ewhurst has its own artisan home baker. Ozlem, the owner of Lokma Bakery & Celebration Cakes, makes everything to order, including artisan chocolate and lollipops.

And in Forest Green, you will find quality, local produce at Butchers Hall Farm Shop.

Days Out

Tasting Tours

Staying with the artisan theme, if you are a fan of craft beer, then why not take a tour at the award-winning Firebird Brewing Company? Tours are every fourth Saturday of the month. If that is too long to wait, you can always enjoy a pint in the brewery bar, open seven days a week.

Family-run Albury Organic Vineyard grows traditional Champagne varietals of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, as well as some Seyval and Pinot Gris. In addition to its popular vineyard tour & tasting, it runs wine & cheese, Friday fizz, biriyani & bubbles, and artisan tasting experiences. Other events include music in the vineyard and bee-keeping demonstrations.

The artisan tasting experience at Albury is run by Silent Pool Distillers. And if gin is your tipple, you will want to visit Silent Pool’s sustainable distillery. Take a tour, enjoy a G&Tea party or sip a cocktail in the outdoor terrace bar overlooking the delightful Silent Pool. Even better, why not upgrade your visit with a genteel three-mile walking tour through Albury Park?

National Trust

This corner of Surrey is rich in stately homes, with a wealth of outstanding parks and gardens to enjoy.

Childhood home of composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, Leith Hill Place is an atmospheric house with panoramic views across the Surrey countryside. In the 19th century, it was home to Charles Darwin’s sister, Caroline Wedgwood, who created Leith Hill’s stunning Rhododendron Wood. Darwin, himself, conducted experiments in the grounds. 

Make sure you visit Leith Hill Tower, the top of which is the highest point in South East England. On a clear day, you can see the London skyline and the sea sparkling through Shoreham Gap.

Also well worth a visit is Polesden Lacey – a beautiful Edwardian country retreat. The future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother spent the first part of their honeymoon there in 1923.

Sport and Leisure

With Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex and the University of Surrey’s prestigious Surrey Sports Park just a few miles from the village, there are plenty of opportunities to take part in sports such as football, rugby, netball, basketball, ice hockey and swimming.

Ewhurst has its own bridge club, cricket club and public tennis courts. And Ewhurst Bowling Centre is open year-round with outdoor bowling in the summer and short mat bowls during the darker months.

There are lots of fantastic bike trails and cycle routes around Ewhurst. And if you ever encounter a problem with your bike, you are well placed to have it fixed. Ewhurst Bikes will always aim to repair and get you back on your bike on the same day.

For horse lovers, there are several equestrian facilities within minutes of Ewhurst, including riding schools, liveries and equine shops. And at the renowned Hurtwood Park Polo Club, juniors and adults can learn the ropes in the club’s Polo School.

• Cranleigh Golf & Country Club offers many different activities and facilities, including golf, tennis, gym, swimming, spa, steam room and sauna. As a member, you can also enjoy a drink or a meal in the Mess Bar & Club Lounge – a 17th century barn conversion – or on its terrace and patio area.

Another great option is Slinfold Golf & Country Club near Horsham. Again, you’ll find a wealth of outstanding facilities, from golf and swimming to a state-of-the-art TechnoGym and a range of exercise classes.