Puttenham Common

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 5.3km loop offers a quintessential Surrey trail running experience, blending undulating sandy tracks with the soft needle-carpeted floors of dense woodland. With 73m of vertical gain, the elevation is manageable for most, yet the varied terrain provides a satisfying technical challenge—particularly on the sandy climbs and descents that test your stabilizers. As you navigate the common in an anticlockwise direction, you'll transition from wide-open heathland vistas to secluded forest paths. Be prepared for a bit of grit in your shoes and some muddy patches near the ponds after a typical English downpour, making this a fantastic route for building cross-country strength.

Puttenham Common is a site of significant archaeological and ecological importance, sitting within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This landscape has been shaped by human activity since the Bronze Age, and as you run, you are traversing land that once featured hill forts and ancient burial mounds. The area is part of the Great Bustard's historic range and is currently a haven for rare bird species like the Nightjar. Runners often find the "Top Common" provides the most breath-taking views toward the Hog’s Back, offering a sense of wilderness and history just a stone's throw from the village of Puttenham and its famous local hops.