Reigate Hill and Reigate Fort: Big Views Just Up the Road

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Sunday 19 April 2026 | Reigate, Surrey

While we were house sitting in Reigate, Reigate Hill was so close that we decided we couldn’t leave it out of our trip. We drove up, and I’m really glad we did.

The views

The views from the top were lovely. We found a spot and sat for a while just looking out over it all. There’s a viewpoint dial at the top that shows you what you’re looking at in the distance.

The viewpoint dial at the top of Reigate Hill.
The viewpoint dial at the top of Reigate Hill.

Old trees and woodland paths

The paths around the hill wind through woodland, and some of the old trees are huge. One old stump was covered in big bracket fungus, which I couldn’t resist photographing.

One of the woodland paths on the hill.
One of the woodland paths on the hill.
Looking up into a huge old tree.
Looking up into a huge old tree.
A wooden signpost among the trees.
A wooden signpost among the trees.
The National Trust sign for Reigate Hill.
The National Trust sign for Reigate Hill.

Reigate Fort

Just along from the viewpoint is Reigate Fort. It was built in 1898, when there were real fears of an invasion and protecting London was the priority. It was one of 13 sites set up around London as mobilisation centres, storing tools for digging trenches, and ammunition, ready to form a last line of defence. The invasion never came, which is probably the best thing that can happen to a fort.

Today the fort is looked after by the National Trust. You walk in through the double gates and down between high walls to the old buildings, with grassy banks all around. It’s quiet and peaceful now, which is hard to imagine when you think about why it was built.

The gates into Reigate Fort.
The gates into Reigate Fort.
The entrance between the old fort walls.
The entrance between the old fort walls.
One of the old brick buildings inside the fort.
One of the old brick buildings inside the fort.
The path running between the high walls.
The path running between the high walls.
The grassy grounds inside the fort.
The grassy grounds inside the fort.
A path along the top of the grassy banks.
A path along the top of the grassy banks.
The view out over the countryside.
The view out over the countryside.
Looking back across the fort grounds.
Looking back across the fort grounds.
An old tree stump covered in bracket fungus.
An old tree stump covered in bracket fungus.
A closer look at the fungus growing up the stump.
A closer look at the fungus growing up the stump.
The view from the top of the hill.
The view from the top of the hill.

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