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Alderstead Fort: a London mobilisation centre at Merstham

1 ha

📷 Kurseong Carl · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsAncientWildlife
Free entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

51.27529, -0.14448

Open directionsv
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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

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  • 🐦82+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Woodpigeon
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Best for

8 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Free

Birds — Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow +79 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Ancient woodland

Strong match

Free

Ancient woodland — continuous woodland since before 1600

Wildlife

Strong match

Free

Birds — Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow +79 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Insect spotting

Strong match

Free

Insects — Common Red Soldier Beetle, White/Buff-tailed Bumblebee workers, Common Carder Bee +12 more · last seen 2025

Heritage

Strong match

Free

Historic site

Foraging

Good match

Varies

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

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18 signed routes nearby · 7 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
LOOP link to Whyteleafe stationWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Banstead Countryside WalkWalking route▾
Named routeRef BCWLocal walking route
Happy Valley & Farthing Downs Nature TrailWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
Downlands Circular WalkWalking route▾
Named routeLocal walking route
London Loop DiversionWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

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68 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
LCN 23Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 23Local cycle route
Avenue Verte London ↔ ParisCycling route▾

English part of Avenue Verte London ↔ Paris, an international cycle route that connects the two capital cities

Named routeRef AVInternational cycle route
Route 21Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 21National Cycle Network
National Cycle Route 20 Wandsworth to South MersthamCycling route▾
Named routeRef 20National Cycle Network
Route 22Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 22National Cycle Network
Surrey CyclewayCycling route▾

Catherham link

Named routeRegional cycle route
🐴

Horse riding

▾

2 public paths nearby

Public paths
Lime Works Roadbridleway · 217 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 217 mSurface asphaltPath type: bridleway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

21 photos from nearby open sources

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Alderstead Lane

📷 Kurseong Carl · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Alderstead Lane

1 / 21
Free entry🐶 Dogs

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Memorial ParkUrban park3.9 km→🌱Redhill Memorial ParkUrban park3.9 km→🦉BANSTEAD WOODS AND CHIPSTEAD DOWNSNature reserve4.3 km→🌱Coulsdon Memorial GroundUrban park4.5 km→🌱Coulsdon CommonUrban park3.7 km→🌱Westway CommonUrban park3.8 km→