Riverside and Waterways

The River Thames travels along the north of the county and here you will find Runnymede Meadow, the site where King John sealed the Magna Carta in 1215. Take a walk along the Thames Path and enjoy the wildlife, cafes and pubs that are dotted along the way.

The River Wey is Surrey’s oldest waterway and it flows from the Thames at Weybridge through the heart of Surrey for 20 miles into its rural landscape. You can learn more about the River Wey Navigations, one of the National Trust’s most unusual properties, at Dapdune Wharf.

The Basingstoke Canal was originally constructed in the 18th century and was re-opened as a fully navigable waterway in 1991. It stretches 32 miles from the River Wey at New Haw into Hampshire, passing through countryside and towns and offering walking, boating, fishing and cycling.

Alternatively, visit the River Mole by taking a walk along the Mole Gap Trail, which links the market towns of Leatherhead and Dorking. It is an idyllic walk along the riverbanks, past the great estates of Norbury and Cherkley.