Car Hire Lightwater

The air in Lightwater always seems to carry a stillness, especially on early spring mornings when the trees are just beginning to bud and walkers pass quietly along woodland paths. Tucked between heaths and hills in northwest Surrey, it’s a place that unfolds at a gentle pace. Just off the M3 and a short drive from Camberley, it’s a smooth run whether you’re coming in from the direction of Woking or further afield. This village has about 7,000 residents.

The weather here tends to shift subtly—warm and drowsy in summer but with enough damp breezes the rest of the year to make a light waterproof a smart idea. The best time to visit is arguably autumn, when Lightwater Country Park is blanketed in amber and ochre. But any season has its rhythm here—from misty morning trails to lazy afternoons near the water.

Attractions In Lightwater

There’s a slow charm to how things unfold here. You won’t find big crowds or tightly packed tourist trails but rather spaces that invite lingering—woodland that opens to heath, tracks that lead to sudden views and small landmarks that seem woven into everyday life.

Lightwater Country Park

Set just off The Avenue, this is the place most people drift toward first—and for good reason. There’s a little of everything: woodland walks, wide stretches of heath and a pond where the sky often reflects back in perfect symmetry.

The café serves decent tea and hot chips and there’s a play area for younger kids that buzzes with energy on sunny weekends. The mini golf course isn’t grand but it’s cheerful and never too crowded. With the trails stretching out on either side, it’s easy to lose a few hours just meandering.

High Curley Hill Summit

Reaching the top of High Curley Hill feels like stepping briefly out of town and into something older, quieter. It’s not a dramatic view—the trees have grown too tall for that—but there’s something about the silence up there that settles you.

We climbed up just after the rain had passed and the whole path smelled of pine and damp earth.

Little Pond

This small pond sits off to the side of the main trail in the country park, easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. Still water, birdsong, the occasional rustle in the reeds.

We saw someone sketching quietly under a tree while a heron stood absolutely still at the edge.

Lightwater Playing Fields

A stretch of open land off Broadway Road—nothing elaborate but very much part of the town’s daily rhythm. On Saturdays it’s full of local football matches; on weekdays, a few lone dog walkers and the occasional jogger.

A popular green space for those coming from Ash, it offers an easy-going stop on the way through to the park.

Black Hill Water Tower

This one’s a bit of a curiosity. Perched on the border with Bagshot, the water tower rises above the treetops, striking more in its strangeness than in beauty.

We spotted it at dusk, when the silhouette looked almost like something out of a Cold War film.

The Basing Stone

If you’re walking along The Maultway and see a lone granite block set just off the verge, that’s the Basing Stone. There’s no sign shouting about its purpose—you have to know or look it up later.

We passed a family from Virginia Water who’d stopped to check it out and said they’d heard it marked old boundaries between parishes. Whether that’s true or not, it’s a quiet kind of landmark—the sort that doesn’t demand attention but rewards it.

Windlesham Arboretum

Not officially Lightwater but close enough to walk to, the arboretum stretches out in quiet loops around lakes and sloping lawns. Some parts feel manicured, others left to grow wilder.

A group from West Byfleet were weaving their way along the outer paths with a walking map and thermos in hand—clearly making a day of it. One of the lakes had a swan drifting slowly across, barely disturbing the water.

Lightwater War Memorial

Along the main road, just before the turnoff toward the centre, stands the war memorial. It’s modest but carefully kept.

In November, wreaths appear at its base—red against the grey—and the names on the stone catch the morning light. Walkers from Frimley often pass by on their return routes from the southern trails.

Surrey Heath Archaeology And Heritage Centre

The centre sits quietly on London Road, tucked between residential streets. It’s small but holds an unexpectedly rich collection—local finds, historic maps, even a Roman coin or two.

The volunteer we spoke to had a sharp memory and knew every nearby dig site by name. For history lovers, it’s a hidden gem worth an hour or so.

The Trafalgar Way Marker

The plaque is easy to miss—just a small rectangle tucked into the village square in Bagshot. But it marks a remarkable journey: the relay of news from Trafalgar back to London.

Visitors from West End often stop off here before walking the greenway nearby. If you pause to read it, it’s surprising how something so quiet connects to something so loud in history.

Slowing Down In Lightwater

Lightwater has a handful of spots that cater to the unhurried traveller. The Red Lion is the village’s central pub—low beams, hearty meals, a fireplace when it’s cold. A short stroll from there is Jake’s @ The Longacres Garden Centre, a good shout for breakfast or a relaxed lunch with plenty of seating and a garden view.

For stays, the Travelodge in Camberley is the nearest chain option but smaller B&Bs are scattered around, especially toward Bagshot and Frimley. It’s not unusual to find hikers setting off from Woking or cyclists looping in from West Byfleet. Lightwater doesn’t press for attention—it just gives you space to settle in.