Ashtead Common

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Ashtead Common is a large wooded area to the north of the village of Ashtead.

Ashtead Common runs from the M25 Junction 9 in Leatherhead to the outskirt of Epsom, along a lovely bridleway. There are ancient Roman buildings in the private part of the common, along with very occasional hunts. There are many walking entrances to the common throughout north Ashtead, Leatherhead or Epsom.

• Leatherhead - Over the M25 behind B&Q on the A243, opposite Leatherhead Golf Club
• Ashtead - At the top of Ashtead Woods Road (private) Coming down Links Road, take the right immediately after Warwick Gardens, then over the style
• From Ashtead train station - on the Waterloo/Victoria side
• Epsom - Take the Wells Road coming into town on the 1way system, go left, under bridge, next left

It is a preservation area run by the Corporation of London. The Preservation Order is hundreds of years old. The area has ancient Oak trees over 200 years old, rare in a European context.

Because of this in the 1930s, when the private British Rail companies of the time wanted to join Chessington South railway station with Leatherhead railway station, they were denied planning permission from the Government because of the protection order.