The best thing about the walk at this, or any time of year, has to be the vistas, offering tantalising glimpses of this impressive landscape. Although these have remained the same through the centuries there is always something new to see with the change in seasons.
At this time of year you can see buzzards soaring high over the open parkland and, if you're quiet, roe deer can be spotted out in the park or in the woodland. Glimpses of the lakes and water features, along with the wildlife that resides there, can also be seen.
For a quick snack, Urban Kitchen in Wray Lane car park serves excellent food and drink, but for a more substantial meal the Yew Tree pub on Reigate Hill (A217) serves good food and is only a few hundred yards away.
Bring wellies and a camera as you never know what you might see when walking in the park. Even if the wildlife does not offer itself for a photo opportunity, the views change with the seasons and always offer something new.
• Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk/walks and you can tweet your favourite walk and upload images on Twitter over the Christmas period at #festivewalks. See twitter.com/nationaltrust.
Route and directions
Start: Wray Lane car park, RH2 9PL. Grid ref: TQ258518. Maps: Landranger 187 and Explorer 146
1. To enter Gatton Park use the path marked with the National Trust sign, located opposite the Wray Lane car park entrance. At the first "Discover Gatton" way marker post, head down the gentle slope; the park's original carriage drive.
2. At the second post take the left fork in the track.
3. Very shortly after the second post you will find the third post situated above a viewpoint giving you a first glimpse of this historic parkland.
4. Continue along the old carriage road to the fourth post, situated by a lone yew tree, and follow the arrow.
5. At the end of this section of track you will see Tower Lodge on your left marking another of the entrances into the park; it is made from Gatton stone. Turn right at the fifth post.
6. Keep an eye out for views across the parkland and, a little further on, the stone circle. Within a few minutes of leaving the stone circle you will find the sixth post, pointing you to the right, down the hill towards Hop Garden Pond and through the open parkland.
7. Once you have crossed the open parkland, you will re-enter the woodland fringe to post seven. Take a sharp right up the steep bank into Nut Wood. As you reach the top of this track you will be rewarded with perhaps the best view of the main lake over the tops of the trees bordering the serpentine. Once the track levels out, continue until you arrive at a junction of paths.
8. Take a right at this junction, past the highest point in the park. Continue, passing Wingate Hill which offers a last opportunity to look back on the parkland. This is also a good place to try and spot the spire of St Andrew's church nestling in the trees. You will find post nine at the top of this slope.
9. Turn right and head back to post three and the first viewpoint. At post three follow the arrow left taking you the short distance back to Wray Lane car park.
Distance, terrain and accessibility
Follow the "Discover Gatton" way markers on this two-mile (3.2km) circular walk. This walk takes approximately 1½ hours for a reasonably fit walker. The terrain is undulating with some steep gradients. The track surfaces can be muddy and slippery in places in wet weather. Dogs welcome.
Get there and local facilities
Foot: The North Downs Way long distance path runs through Gatton Park. See nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns
Bike: approximately two miles north of a National Cycle Network route which runs through Reigate town centre. See sustrans.org.uk
Bus: services 420 and 460 from Reigate and Redhill to Tadworth Epsom. Alight Sutton stop on A217, 200yds from start of walk
Rail: nearest stations, Reigate and Merstham and, approx. one mile from Gatton Park
By car: Park at Wray Lane car park (NT) at the top of Reigate Hill, adjacent to junction 8 of the M25. There is no direct access to Wray Lane when approaching from the Reigate direction. You will need to approach from the other direction by going round the main junction 8 roundabout and turning left into Wray Lane.
There is a cafe and WCs in the car park, open 9am-5pm.
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