Discover Horton Country Park in Surrey with the family
Approximately 40 minutes outside London, at the foot of the North Downs, you’ll find Horton Country Park Local Nature Reserve.
The site is divided into four areas and around half of the country park is space, entirely open and accessible to the public. It is designated as a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Nature Conservation Importance.
The remaining area within the country park is divided between three centres: Hobbledown Farm, Horton Golf Park and Equus Equestrian Centre.
Horton Country Park
Horton Country Park is managed to allow good public access whilst at the same time maintaining and improving the ecological diversity of the site.
With an assortment of distinctive habitats ranging from ancient woodland to open grassland, streams and ponds, there is plenty for you to see and explore.
Soak in the wonderful views as you ramble through the park, lots of paths and trails will tire out little legs as they enjoy this beautiful green space. There are also plenty of horses to spot in the fields that flank the paths.
Discover dens perfect for adventures in the clearings as you go deeper into the park and have a go at building your own.
Horton Country Park holds many wildlife treasures. Take a wander through the tranquil Bluebell Woods, listen out for the ‘laughing’ call of the green woodpecker and look out for the bewitching Roe deer in the meadows as well as the heron on Meadow Pond.
Stop by Much, the coffee truck in the car park and grab a coffee made with freshly roasted beans or a delectable hot chocolate. Fancy a bite? Becks, the owner, will spoil you with her array of delicious home bakes. You could also enjoy a picnic at one of the many picnic tables near the carpark.
Hobbledown Farm Park and Zoo
At Hobbledown, a day of adventure and wonder truly waits for little and large ‘Hobblers’ alike.
As the song in the promotional video says,
‘Enchanted playgrounds, stories told,
The young at heart, the brave, the bold.
Imagination never grows old,
When you play and play.’
A day spent at Hobbledown proves the truth behind the lyrics: jumping pillows, an enchanting fairy castle, storytelling, zorbing, high ropes, zip lines, tunnels and so much more.
Visit the recently added Raptor Centre, home to 18 majestic birds of prey. You can see a Bengalese eagle owl, a Red-backed hawk and an Aplomado falcon to name just a few.
As you explore, you’ll discover prairie dogs, camels, wallabies, giant tortoises and lemurs.
The park is steeped in its own story and alive with characters who you can meet and hear more about in The Thinkery during the interactive storytelling sessions.
The kids can embark on a hero’s quest at Fern’s fairy tale castle. Let their imagination run wild as they battle among the towers, tunnels and slides to save Hobbledown’s resident fairy Fern, who has been taken prisoner by the mischievous skibblers.
Have some sandy fun at the multi-levelled courtyard then experiment in the outdoor water play area.
Search for precious crystallite stones deep inside the Hobbledown Caves in The Mining Village. There’s a reward in store if you find some…
For the truly intrepid among you, get busy in the zorbs or have a go at tackling the high ropes (at an additional fee).
If the weather turns, there is plenty to do in the indoor Play Barn. Here you’ll find not one, but two multi-story themed play frames. There is also a toddler area for your teeny tiny hobblings, where they can have fun among sensory lights, mirrors and a dedicated mini play frame.
The Imaginarium, another indoor play space, has caves and more tunnels to explore. Not only that, but there are enclosures built into the cave walls housing the likes of tarantulas, poison dart frogs and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. There’s even an interactive savannah where you can hop between alligators! Keep little hands busy with interactive sandboxes and a giant lizard-shaped water table.
Fancy really immersing the family in Hobbledown? Why not book one of their experiences? Have a go at zookeeping or handling the birds of prey. Get hands on with the easy-going coatis or get close to the curious meerkats. Meet and feed the reindeer Todd and Roo or spend some time getting to know the giant African tortoises. The experiences come at an additional cost to the ticket price.
Horton Golf Park
Not far from Hobbledown, you’ll find the golf park. There are two challenging courses spread across stunning parkland. Aswell as this, you’ll find Adventure Golf, a driving range and escape rooms.
Lose yourself in Jungle Island Adventure Golf, replete with waterfalls, wild animals, a lagoon and a pulley bridge. This place takes adventure golf to the next level!
When you’re finished navigating your way through the caves, dodging the gorilla and jumping the rapids in Jungle Island, pop over to the driving range. Here you can spend an hour or two honing your game…or just de-stress by whacking some balls. The driving range at Horton has 26 bays and is powered by Inrange ball tracking technology.
For adults and children 14 and over, you can challenge yourselves at the escape rooms, here you’ll find four different experiences to choose from. In the Operation Sealion challenge, you will take on the role as 1940s British Intelligence where you will work to recover some documents in order to foil Hitler’s plan to invade Britain.
When you need to refuel, there is a restaurant conveniently located on the premises, with a playground attached - just in case the little ones still have some energy to burn…
Equus
Equus Equestrian Centre is located in the beautiful surroundings of Horton Country Park. If the kids fancy a pony lesson, this would be a great place to let them have a go. There is also a coffee bar and viewing facilities.
Alternatively, those of you with a little more experience might enjoy a country park hack as a family, taking in the stunning surroundings as you go.
Whether you already live in the Surrey area and haven’t yet discovered Horton, or you are travelling from further afield, Horton Country Park Local Nature Reserve makes for a great day (or few days!) out.