A campaign has been launched to encourage visitors to the Surrey Hills National Landscape to travel by rail. The ambition of Rail to Ramble is to create walking routes which give users the very best countryside experiences whilst leaving the car at home. This creates a greener and more accessible National Landscape for all visitors looking for connections to nature.
With thanks to funding from Great Western Railway’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund, the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership and Surrey Hills National Landscape commissioned local artist Diana Croft to create railway posters which champion sustainable travel along the North Downs Line. This railway line connecting Reading to London Gatwick Airport offers a beautiful train ride through the rolling Surrey Hills, with views of the chalk North Downs hillside, St Martha’s Hill and characterful towns and villages such as Shalford, Chilworth and Gomshall.
Following the poster launch, attendees experienced a delightful short walk to the nearby Gunpowder Mills, a cherished heritage site along the Shalford to Chilworth Rail to Ramble route. The event culminated at the charming Percy Arms, further underscoring the region’s rich local business offerings.
Eleanor Wills, GWR Regional Development Manager (East), said:
“The Customer and Community Improvement Fund is a fantastic opportunity for us to invest in projects that really make a difference to our customers and communities at a local level. These
posters provide a perfect guide to the wealth of amazing walking routes within easy reach of the North Downs Line.”
Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure and Growth at Surrey County Council said:
“Surrey County Council celebrates the recognition of the pivotal role that sustainable travel has in preserving the landscape of the Surrey Hills. This project demonstrates the importance of working together to ensure that visitors by train have a warm welcome on viewing the beautiful new posters and then can enjoy a great experience visiting the outstanding countryside and supporting our local businesses on the well maintained and waymarked trails.”
