Car Hire Hindhead

Mornings settle slowly in Hindhead. The trees hold the last of the mist and the only sounds come from blackbirds and the dry rustle of leaves across gravel. Set high in the Surrey Hills, Hindhead is part moorland, part forest, with paths that feel more discovered than made. When you’re there you’ll notice a change of pace in this place with a little bit more than 4,000 people living in it.

It’s a straightforward drive via the A3, which slips quietly beneath the town through the Hindhead Tunnel. The air here has a different weight to it—cooler, clearer, tinged with pine and peat. You’ll want sturdy boots and a weatherproof layer, even in sunshine; the weather changes without warning. Spring arrives gently but autumn has more to offer: bronzed ferns, early twilight and quiet trails that stay with you long after you leave. Though not far from Guildford, Hindhead holds its own rhythm entirely.

Attractions In Hindhead

There’s something unhurried about Hindhead. The sort of place where one thing leads to another—a footpath becomes a view, a signpost leads you off track and suddenly it’s late afternoon.

Hindhead Commons And The Devil’s Punch Bowl

We started at the main car park near London Road, where the café opens early and a few walkers were already heading out with maps tucked under their arms. You don’t need one—not really. The Punch Bowl reveals itself in stages.

At first, it’s just open heath. Then the land begins to dip and twist and suddenly you’re standing above this vast hollow of green and shadow. It’s quiet down there. Even birdsong seems to pause. We followed the ridge path, veered down into the Bowl, then climbed again, legs aching just the right amount. There’s no rush. You walk and it rewards you.

Gibbet Hill Cross

The trail up to Gibbet Hill pulls away from the main path—a gentle incline that becomes steeper without you noticing.

At the top, the view is wide enough to still you. We sat on a rock beside the old stone cross and read the small signs about its past—hangings, lost travellers, watchful crowds. We didn’t feel watched, exactly but we didn’t speak out loud either. The air was thin and still. Somewhere behind the horizon lay Ripley but we weren’t in a hurry to see what came next.

Highcombe Edge

It was by accident that we found Highcombe Edge. A detour, really—the sort you only take because the light looks better in that direction.

The trees opened out. There was a bench, worn and facing east. We stopped, opened the flask and let the breeze carry the smell of pine up the slope. It’s not marked. You’d only find it if you wandered without needing to get anywhere.

Grayshott Pottery

Later in the morning, we drove into Grayshott. The pottery sits just off School Road, almost like it’s hiding from passers-by.

Inside, we watched someone glazing a bowl, half-listening to a kettle boiling in the café behind. we bought a mug—heavy, uneven, glazed in something stormy—and sat for a while with a sandwich and tea. No rush. Just shelves, ceramics, quiet.

The Sailor’s Stone

The stone came unexpectedly—a square of rough rock by the side of the road near Thursley. We’d read about it once. A sailor, killed by thieves, buried where he fell.

There’s a faded inscription. We stood with the car ticking behind me, reading it again and again. The ground felt soft underfoot. Before heading on towards Ash, we stayed just long enough for it to settle in our thoughts.

Haslemere Educational Museum

We planned to pass through Haslemere quickly but rain brought us indoors. The museum looked small from the outside but we lost track of time inside. Fossils, birds, local maps and a room where children played beneath a model dinosaur. Entry was by donation. It felt like borrowing someone’s family photo album.

Temple Of The Four Winds

Back in the woods, near Hindhead Common, we followed a side trail to what’s left of the Temple—just a foundation and a plaque now.

But the space has its own hush. Two people sat nearby on a fallen log, sharing crisps in silence. We didn’t say anything, just nodded as we passed. The trees held the space around us.

A couple from Badshot Lea had told us earlier it was worth seeing. They weren’t wrong.

Frensham Great Pond

Frensham felt like a different world. We parked near Little Pond and wandered down past sun-warmed gorse into something that looked and smelled like the coast.

The pond was busy but not loud—children paddling, dogs shaking water, someone reading under a tree. A dragonfly followed us for a while. Coming from Farnham, it would’ve been an easy day trip. But we were glad we came the long way round.

Hindhead Tunnel

There’s a path above the tunnel where the old A3 once ran. Now it’s cracked, overgrown in places, wildflowers nudging up through tarmac.

We walked it out of curiosity. Below us, cars sped through the hillside. Up here, we heard only wind and the scratch of brambles. It felt strange, peaceful. Like nature was slowly taking back what once belonged to engines.

Bramshott Common

Later in the afternoon, we ended up on Bramshott Common—not for a reason, just because we weren’t ready to go home.

The trails aren’t marked. The trees aren’t trimmed. There’s a rawness here we liked. We crossed paths with no one for twenty minutes. A distant dog barked, a crow called once and then nothing. Somewhere beyond the trees was Albury but we were in no hurry to find it.

John Davis & Son Funfairs

We haven’t planned for the funfair. It had popped up near Grayshott Road for the school holidays—lights spinning, rides whirring, music spilling into the air.

We didn’t ride anything. We just bought candy floss and watched two teenagers laugh their way through hook-a-duck. It was brief, chaotic and unexpectedly sweet.

Where To Pause And Stay Awhile

Café Twenty5 on London Road is a good spot to start—friendly, unfussy and just a short walk from the Devil’s Punch Bowl. The Punch Bowl Café itself is another option, tucked beside the car park with soups, sandwiches and scones best enjoyed after a long walk.

For something more substantial, Applegarth just down the road in Grayshott does fresh, seasonal food in a quiet setting with a garden for warmer days. Accommodation tends to be low-key and local—The Devil’s Punchbowl Hotel offers a central base, while The Little Barn is a cosy self-catering option nearby. If you’re heading towards Godalming or Cranleigh, you’ll find other quiet places to stay along the lanes. Just enough comfort to dry your boots and put the kettle on.