A Clear Day at Box Hill, and Everything Just Felt Right
It wasn’t a big plan. Just a Saturday, just a short train ride out of London, just enough motivation to put on comfortable shoes and leave my phone on silent.
Box Hill had been on my list for ages, and when the morning light filtered through the window just right, I packed a light lunch, a bottle of water, and my usual bag—one that’s seen beaches, train platforms, and now, a gentle hill in Surrey.
The quiet kind of trail that doesn’t need much from you
The route was kind. Gentle inclines, wide views, signs that guided without rushing.
I took the circular trail starting from the café at Rykas, walking past open fields and quiet woodland. The ground was dry, the air crisp. I didn’t check my phone once. The kind of walk where your body leads and your mind follows.
Somewhere between walking and wandering
Around the midpoint, the trail opened up. I stood still—not because I was tired, but because I didn’t want to rush through the view.
A couple passed with a dog. A kid balanced on a log. A backpack rested by my feet, light, dry, forgotten—in the best way.
I thought about how some places let you settle, even as you move through them. Box Hill was one of those.
A small escape that stayed with me longer than expected
I ended the loop back at Rykas Café. A quick coffee, then back to the station. Just a few hours out—but everything felt different coming back.
Not everything needs to be epic. Sometimes just going—lightly, simply, quietly—is enough.
Want to pack light and still be ready for anything? I brought along this one: Extend Waterproof Backpack—because sometimes you don’t want to think about your gear. You just want to walk.