West Horsley Towers is a beautiful spot for a countryside walk (Image: Surrey Advertiser)
Surrey is a treasure trove of picturesque towns and villages, but one neighbourhood stands out as if plucked straight from a fairytale. Nestled just outside Guildford, this enchanting Surrey Hills village is enveloped by lush woodland and National Trust grounds.
East Horsley, flanked by the equally charming villages of Shere, Great Bookham and West Clandon, greets motorists with a sight reminiscent of a Disney film—a striking building adorned with turrets right next to the curb. Horsely Towers, a 19th-century country house designed by Charles Barry for banker William Currie, adds to the village’s charm. The magnificent estate was later sold to William King-Noel, 1st Earl of Lovelace, who expanded the house twice, introducing bold architectural elements.
The unique Lovelace Bridges in Horsley (Image: Surrey Advertiser/Grahame Larter)
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Now a Grade Two-listed hotel, Horsely Towers was built using local flint and brick. It boasts a complex network of walls, tunnels, arches, bastions, and a long cloister.
Lovelace had a particular fondness for tunnels and bridges, and to ease the transport of timber by horse-drawn carts in the hilly woods south of Horsley Towers, Lovelace had tracks and bridges built. Originally numbering 15, ten of these structures still stand today.
Today, visitors can explore the Lovelace Bridges in the Surrey Hills. One circular route on guides walkers over nine of these bridges.
This 8km trail is dog-friendly and generally considered moderately challenging, taking approximately two hours and 45 minutes to complete. East Horsley, the location of this scenic walk, also boasts The Duke of Wellington, a local favourite for its epic Sunday roasts.
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This Surrey gastro pub, situated opposite Horsley Towers—now known as De Vere Horsley Estate hotel—features similar decorative brickwork. The historic country pub serves up three traditional roasts: Aubrey Allen’s dry-aged rump of beef, Jimmy Butler’s free-range pork and crackling, and free-range chicken supreme.
Vegetarians are catered for with a vegetarian Wellington featuring artichoke heart, spinach, emmental, and pine nuts. Roasts start from £18.50 each and come accompanied by roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, roasted roots, Yorkshire pudding, and jugs of gravy.
East Horsley is an ideal spot for a family day out, with numerous attractions in the surrounding area. Hatchlands Park, Polesden Lacey, Newlands Corner, and Denbies Wine Estate are just some of the top sites to visit.
As per property website Rightmove, the average house price in East Horsley over the past year stands at £1,197,188. Detached properties makeup the majority of these sales, fetching an average price of £1,380,250.