Days Out In Surrey: Winkworth Arboretum
Written by Jaillan Yehia
Winter had well and truly arrived in the south of England on the day I went for a snowy walk at Surrey’s Winkworth Arboretum.
This 149 acre woodland, set around a lake and boathouse, has around 1000 different species of trees, shrub, plants and flowers, with textbook idyllic views of the surrounding Surrey countryside…
I don’t arrive at Winkworth Arboretum until mid afternoon – well it wouldn’t be a day off without a lazy brunch and leisurely coffee before heading out.
It’s an absolutely delightful drive to this historic area of woodland to the southeast of Godalming, so next time I’d choose to leave the house hungry and stop off at one of the country pubs I pass en route.
Luckily Winkworth Arboretum is the kind of place where you can easily spend a few hours walking and admiring the flowers if you have the time but you can just as easily pop in for a pleasant, pretty but brief walk if daylight is fading.
I spend about an hour and a half exploring the area, with a small map of the trails in my hand, but meet a few dog walkers who seem to know their way around Winkworth Arboretum and probably pop in for 30 minutes or less with their annual National Trust membership.
While there’s a range of different landscapes from meadow to lake and forest you don’t have to cover all the ground in one go -and I’ll definitely come back in the late Spring or Summer to see how it looks in full bloom – the bluebells are legendary here and there are various events on throughout the year.
The main reason I picked this spot for a winter walk in Surrey is because despite being the dead of winter, Winkworth Arboretum has flowering varieties even on those snowy January days – such as snowdrops – and as Spring arrives is one of the first places to welcome daffodils.
As I’m feeling starved of colour by this point in winter I find myself really craving a walk amongst some flowers – and the picturesque lake setting, benches with animal carvings and boathouse I find at Winkworth Arboretum are all a delightful bonus.
More Info
Historic and protected, Winkworth Arboretum has been looked after by the National Trust since 1952.
The woodland is open all year round from 10-5 and until 6 in the summer months, though the on site tea room closes earlier – do check Winkworth Arboretum opening hours before you travel.
Entrance starts from £7.60 for an adult ticket, though National Trust members can park and enter the grounds with their membership card.
Savoirthere was a guest of The National Trust
Tags: England, National Trust, Surrey
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