Heather Farm has been very popular ever since it was opened in 2015. The facilities are enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year. There is a large free car park, with plenty of disabled parking areas, EV charging points and even a “posh wash” for the dogs when they get muddy. Heather Farm Café is independently managed serving delicious light meals, pastries and beverages. The extended seating area with plenty of space is helpful for those with buggies or wheelchairs.  

Open from: The Café is open 9am to 5 pm daily. For further details check:  https://www.heatherfarm.cafe/  

Heather Farm Café; 01483 726556 or manager.hfcafe@baronspubs.com for any queries.         

Address: Heather Farm, Chobham Rd, Woking GU21 4XY.                             

From the car park, there is immediate access to the fenced Wetland area with a  walk beside the lake. There is a mix of board walks and raised paths.  After heavy rain, these paths can become very muddy or even flooded. Dogs are not allowed in the Wetland area to protect birds nesting in the reeds at the water’s edge and because it is grazed by Welsh Badger Face sheep as part of the conservation programme. This is a wonderful place to observe birds, watch the sheep and see how many wildflowers there are in the summer months. It is hard to imagine that this area and Heather Farm were once under many feet of concrete as foundations for the mushroom sheds when the site was a mushroom farm. 

 There is also easy access across the River Bourne to the Mimbridge Meadows and Bourne Fields. This area of beautiful meadowland, rich with grasses, flowers and bird song is ideal for family walks and dog walking, with raised paths making it easier for buggies. As the area is in the flood plain of the R.Bourne it can become wet and muddy after rain.

The Sandpit is a most interesting feature of Horsell Common. It can be reached easily from Shores Road free car park.  This is a very popular and busy car park. The H.G. Wells trail, built by HCPS in 2017, is an easy access path leading to the Sandpit where there are a few benches made from timber from fallen trees. 

This is a favourite destination for families as children love to play in the sand and dog owners never tire of throwing sticks for their dogs to retrieve from the seasonal pond. The majestic Scots pines with their webbing of roots exposed on the sandy banks are popular with children and photographers. 

Historically, the Bagshot sand was excavated for many years for use as a building material.  From a literary point of view, this is the site where the Martians landed in “The War of the Worlds” by H.G. Wells.

Car Park: Horsell Common Car Park, Shores Road, (A245) GU21 4HQ

The undulating meadows of McLaren Park, with an abundance of grasses and wildflowers are in contrast to the adjacent heathland. McLaren Park forms part of the HCPS estate. It was developed when the McLaren Production and Technology Centre was being built. This amazing public open space with its wildlife benefits came about as a result of HCPS, WBC and McLaren’s working collaboratively on the project.  Surrey Wildlife Trust scattered wildflower and grass seed over the whole area and today these meadows attract more than 200 species of insects. Broad grassy paths are cut through the meadows and at the end of summer, the vegetation is mown and used for animal fodder. The McLaren buildings and lake are private but afford a glimpse of a state-of-the-art modern factory built sympathetically in an area of natural beauty.

Please see “Walking on Horsell Common” for directions on how to reach McLaren Park from the Shores Road car park and the Sandpit.