Vineyards of the Surrey Hills

The Surrey Hills hold more vineyards per square mile than almost anywhere else in England, and most of the serious producers sit within a ten-mile corridor between Guildford and Dorking. Denbies is the largest vineyard in England by area. Albury Organic grows biodynamically on south-facing chalk. Greyfriars and Chilworth Manor are smaller, more personal operations where the person pouring is often the winemaker.

This trail covers four vineyards, with High Clandon as an optional fifth for groups. Two require pre-booking; two allow walk-ins. There is a viable car-free route on the 32 bus, which stops within easy walking distance of both Albury Organic and Chilworth Manor.

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking

Denbies is the most visitor-ready of the Surrey producers. The estate covers 265 acres on the North Downs above Dorking, and the visitor centre is open daily from 9am to 5:30pm (5pm on weekdays from January to March). You can walk in to the wine shop, the Gallery Restaurant or the terrace without any advance planning. Tours need to be booked ahead. It is a good anchor for the end of the day - there is enough to do that you will not feel rushed if an earlier stop runs over time.

Albury Organic Vineyard, Albury

Albury is a certified biodynamic vineyard growing on the Greensand ridge above the village of Albury, a few minutes' walk from Silent Pool. The wine shop and tasting room are open on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays from 11am to 5pm (11am to 4pm from October to December; closed January and February). You can walk in and buy wine without booking. Tours and guided tastings need to be arranged in advance - see the Albury Organic listing for current prices. The sparkling wines are particularly good - worth buying a bottle here rather than waiting to find them elsewhere.

Chilworth Manor Vineyard, Chilworth

A small estate in the wooded valley just south of Chilworth village. Tours and tastings require advance booking - see the Chilworth Manor listing for current prices. Tours run to a fixed schedule, so if you are combining Chilworth with other stops on the same day, book early and build your timings around the slot.

Greyfriars Vineyard, Puttenham

Greyfriars grows on the sandy soils of the Hog's Back, west of Guildford, which puts it slightly off the main Guildford-to-Dorking corridor. Tours must be booked in advance - see the Greyfriars listing for current prices and availability. The vineyard is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. It is worth the detour if you are travelling by car - the wines are consistently good and the setting, on the crest of the Hog's Back with views south towards the Weald, is different from the chalk and greensand vineyards further east.

High Clandon, East Clandon

A smaller operation run by Bruce and Sibylla Tindale, between East Clandon and the A246. Visits are by appointment or on designated open days; tours are hosted by the owners in the Glass Barn. High Clandon has won the IWC Cellar Door of the Year trophy twice. If you are travelling as a group of six or more it is worth contacting them directly - check the High Clandon listing (read our review) for contact details - as the experience is better suited to a private visit than a drop-in.

By car you can cover all four main vineyards in a day, with two booked slots and two walk-ins. A practical order, working west to east:

Morning: Greyfriars, Puttenham
Book a tour in advance - check the Greyfriars listing for current times and availability. Puttenham is around 6 miles south-west of Guildford on the B3000. Parking is available at the vineyard. We are updating the logistics for all trail pages with confirmed details - treat the timings in this guide as indicative rather than exact.

Late morning: Chilworth Manor, Chilworth
Around 12 miles east of Greyfriars. Book a midday slot - advance booking required. The vineyard is signposted from the A248 through Chilworth village. Chilworth railway station is about a mile away if anyone in your group needs to arrive or leave separately by train.

Afternoon: Albury Organic, Albury
2.3 miles from Chilworth Manor. Walk in to the wine shop (open weekends and bank holidays, 11am to 5pm) or pre-book a tasting (£27.50). The vineyard is off Sherbourne Farm Lane near Silent Pool - follow signs for Silent Pool from the A248.

Late afternoon: Denbies, Dorking
7 miles east along the A25 through Shere. Denbies closes at 5:30pm (5pm on weekdays in January to March). The Gallery Restaurant stays open later if you want dinner before heading back.

The 32 bus runs from Guildford bus station to Dorking railway station, stopping at Chilworth and directly outside Albury Organic vineyard at the Silent Pool stop. A car-free day covering three of the four vineyards is straightforward on a Saturday.

Greyfriars (Puttenham) is not on the 32 route. If you want to include it without a car, take a taxi from Guildford - Puttenham is around 6 miles, roughly £15 to £20 each way. Otherwise, leave Greyfriars for a separate car-based day.

Start: train to Guildford
Guildford is 35 minutes from London Waterloo on South Western Railway. From the station, Guildford Friary bus station is a 5-minute walk. The 32 runs roughly every hour.

Stop 1: Chilworth Manor
Get off at Chilworth Railway Station - the 32 stops right outside. Chilworth Manor vineyard is a 15-minute walk up Halfpenny Lane. Advance booking required (£39); arrange your slot before you travel.

Stop 2: Albury Organic
Continue on the 32 towards Dorking and get off at "Albury, opp Silent Pool". The vineyard entrance is a 5-minute walk from the stop. Walk in to the wine shop or pre-book a tasting (£27.50).

Stop 3: Denbies, Dorking
Ride the 32 to its terminus at Dorking Railway Station. Denbies is a 15-minute walk up the A24, or a 5-minute taxi. Walk in to the visitor centre, wine shop and restaurant - no booking needed.

Getting home:
Trains from Dorking run to London Victoria via Leatherhead and Wimbledon (around 55 minutes). Dorking Deepdene, a 10-minute walk away, connects to Redhill for London Bridge and Gatwick.

Best day: Saturday. Albury Organic is only open at weekends and bank holidays. Greyfriars is closed Sundays and Mondays. Chilworth Manor and Denbies are available most of the week, but Saturday is the only day all four are open simultaneously.

Book ahead before you travel. Greyfriars and Chilworth Manor both require pre-booking. Albury's tastings also need to be arranged in advance even though the wine shop is walk-in. Book all pre-booked slots first, then plan your timings around them.

Seasonal closures: Albury Organic closes in January and February. Greyfriars does not offer tours year-round - check the booking calendar on their website before planning a winter visit.

Taxi fares (approximate): Albury to Dorking, £18 to £25. Chilworth to Albury, £8 to £12. Guildford to Greyfriars at Puttenham, £15 to £20.