pic-nic spots in Surrey

[hatwoman]

I'm all Richmond Park-ed out. does anyone know any spots within say 45 mins drive of Kingston that feel like proper country-side. no swings and preferably no other children (might be a lot to ask...). Paddling would be good (probably with wellies)

petworth park?

not sure how far that is from kingston tho

this one is near me and i have never been!

Frensham Ponds is fabulous (but often there are other peeps there - get there early for a nice, quiet experience) - it has sandy banks and a pond (fairly warm water) that the children can swim and paddle in.

also, the park opposite Hampton Court (if you took the car, you'd park in the HC railway station car park and the park's right next to it) is often quiet (but does tend to have dog walkers about).

oh yes forgot frensham

I love Winkworth - haven't been there for ages

i might well try taking them on friday or saturday

Leith Hill? Box Hill?
We love Painshill Park but it is an 18th century landscape garden in process of restoration. So no swings but lots of ha-ha fanciers...

sorry - being a bit thick here. is Frensham ponds this ? where do you park?

they have a car park

this is really really close to me, like almost next door

there's a car park - Frensham Great Pond car park. It's not that easy to find - it's signposted but you need to slow RIGHT down when you start getting close so that you don't miss the turn. It's a real hidden gem.

There are some lovely pubs round there too.

as is this

hope you find something in all this

I can't see - on that Waverley website where exactly Frensham is and how you get there? (am having thick moments...)

this?

that's what the beach part of it looks like

it is nice there and they arent suppsoed to let dogs on the beach BUT when i went people were blatantly ignoring it and letting their rottie run about unsupervised , and also letting it shit without cleaning it up

we go down the M3 but I imagine, from Kingston, you'd go down the A3 till you get to the A31 - go on that and then turn off down the A287 - it comes off there. It's just past Farnham.

It's a great spot but can be popular so if you want guaranteed peace and quiet, it's probably not the first place you'd want to try.

blimey - I'd just made my mind up to go tomorrow and then you tell me stories about crapping rotties! do either of you know Shere - and Sherbourne Pond?

if you come down the a3 to the junction where the m25 meets it (junc 10) and it is dark, do NOT turn off for a break at the immediate left, which by day is a snack shop, as by night it is a notorious dogging site

to be fair, the crapping roote happened after the wardens had gone home

you probably wouldnt have that in the main bit of the day

*rottie lol

Lightwater Country Park is nice but never been for a picnic. Little play area and some ponds where you can feed the ducks

well many thanks ladies - I'm off to bed with the A-Z and a book of Surrey riverside walks to plot our day out...

oh lou, I never knew that about the dogging! Isn't that the Wisley turn off? (will never look at it the same again!)

We go to Virginia Water sometimes which is lovely, but I don't think you are allowed in the water.

Also, Marble Hill park is nice, we usually have a picnic and then walk down by the river, accross Richmond bridge and back down to Ham House, you can then get the little ferry back across the river.

thats the one fox