Cranleigh

About

Cranleigh, said to be one of the largest villages in England, is located in the borough of Waverley, between Guildford and Horsham.  Nestling in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the village is best known for its access to the Surrey Hills, a flourishing art scene and a quaint High Street full of independently owned restaurants, cafés, and shops. For historians, Cranleigh was home to the whimsical cartoonist Heath Robinson from 1918 to 1929 and a gargoyle in St Nicholas Church, built in 1170, is reputed to be the source of Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat in his Alice in Wonderland book. More about the history of the village can be found on the self guided Cranleigh Heritage Walking Trail using QR codes on various High Street locations.  

The village hosts a Farmers Market every Thursday in the car park of Cranleigh Leisure Centre, a monthly Surrey Hills Artisan Market full of locally produced food, drink and crafts makers in the High Street on the first Saturday of the month, and regular Arts and Crafts Fairs in the Village Hall.  The village plays host to a number of events, including Classics on the Drive (May), the Summer Carnival (last Saturday of June), the Classic Car Show (mid August), the Surrey Hills Wood Fair (early September), and Cranleigh Bonfire and Fireworks Night (November) which includes a torchlit procession along the High Street.  

Cranleigh Arts Centre runs a year-round calendar of live music, theatre, comedy, and film nights.  Open Tuesday to Saturday there are also art exhibitions, a café, a state-of-the-art pottery and courses and workshops throughout the year. 

Cranleigh’s café culture includes its continental outdoor dining in both Stocklund and Fountain Squares. In addition to the newly opened 60 acre Knowle Country Park with lake, (fully disabled accessible with a Changing Places toilet) there are a host of places to discover on the doorstep including Holmbury Hill, Winkworth Arboretum, Leith Hill and Tower  for walkers and cyclists, and The Wey & Arun Canal for narrow boat cruises. Good amenities and location make it a welcome stopping point if you are walking, cycling or riding in the Surrey Hills.  Cranleigh also provides easy access to the Downs Link 37 mile trail, along the former railway line, which starts at St Martha’s Hill, outside Guildford and ends at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.    

Looking for somewhere to stay in Cranleigh?  The Richard Onslow is a gastro pub on the high street offering bed and breakfast accommodation (some dog friendly rooms available), providing a warm welcome and a great village location. 

 

Nearby Surrey Towns

Godalming (8.9 miles)

Haslemere (14.6 miles)

Farnham (19 miles)