Cranleigh’s biggest
Cranleigh Common
Park or garden
7.2 ha (18 acres)1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
10 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.7 mi westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: David Howard · CC BY-SA 2.0BOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Cranleigh · parks, paths & countryside
38% of the land within 5 km of Cranleigh is National Park or National Landscape
The Surrey Hills National Landscape reaches the edge of Cranleigh. 94 km of footpaths run through the town and the kilometre around it, 4.3 for every square kilometre. A park or playing field is within a 5-minute walk for 20% of residents. Cranleigh grades B for the outdoors: #39 of 65 in Surrey. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
2.5 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
20%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
94 km
4.3 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
38%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: Surrey Hills National Landscape
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Cranleigh?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Protected countryside38% of the land within 5 km is Surrey Hills National Landscape.A town of footpaths4.3 km of path per km², more than 84% of UK towns. The typical town has 3.0.Parks can be a walk away80% of residents live more than 400 m from a park or playing field.
Cranleigh’s strongest suit is protected countryside on the doorstep, followed by dense footpaths. Where it falls short is how far some homes are from a park.
Outdoors grade
Cranleigh grades B for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Cranleigh, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B
Better than 64% of UK towns#39 of 65 in Surrey · 24th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space2.5 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
60out of
100
100
A park within a walk20%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
4out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape38%of the land within 5 km
88out of
100
100
Footpaths4.3 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
85out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Cranleigh is 24th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 9,800 to 11,100 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Cranleigh4.3
Towns its size3.1
Surrey towns4.3
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Cranleigh2.5
Towns its size1.9
Surrey towns3.1
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Cranleigh20%
Towns its size81%
Surrey towns75%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Cranleigh stands out most for path per km²: only 11 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on homes near a park, where 59 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West End Hampshire | A | 9.1 | 100% | 6.1 | 0% |
| 2 | Brierfield Lancashire | A | 2.1 | 92% | 5.6 | 18% |
| 3 | South Merstham Surrey | A | 3.7 | 84% | 3.7 | 20% |
| 4 | Bradford-on-Avon Wiltshire | A | 2.8 | 88% | 3.7 | 21% |
| 5 | Great Harwood Lancashire | A | 2.2 | 97% | 4.3 | 4% |
| 6 | Godalming Surrey | A− | 4.6 | 73% | 3.1 | 66% |
| 7 | Soham Cambridgeshire | A− | 4.7 | 97% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 8 | Platt Bridge and Abram Greater Manchester | A− | 3.7 | 98% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 9 | Royston South Yorkshire | A− | 7.9 | 97% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 10 | Kings Hill Kent | A− | 2.4 | 100% | 2.8 | 7% |
| 11 | Romiley Greater Manchester | A− | 3.9 | 80% | 3.8 | 1% |
| 12 | Padiham Lancashire | A− | 1.5 | 95% | 4.5 | 18% |
| 13 | Bingham Nottinghamshire | A− | 3.4 | 100% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 14 | Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire | A− | 4 | 85% | 5.4 | 0% |
| 15 | Whitwick Leicestershire | A− | 4.2 | 84% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 16 | Chadwell St Mary Essex | A− | 3.2 | 97% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 17 | Egglescliffe County Durham | A− | 4.9 | 94% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 18 | Tidworth Wiltshire | B+ | 3.7 | 90% | 2.3 | 8% |
| 19 | Pelsall West Midlands | B+ | 6.1 | 95% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 20 | Corfe Mullen Dorset | B+ | 3.1 | 72% | 3.5 | 13% |
| 21 | Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire | B+ | 1.9 | 76% | 3.4 | 56% |
| 22 | Woodbridge Suffolk | B+ | 1.7 | 80% | 3.9 | 30% |
| 23 | Barnoldswick Lancashire | B+ | 1.8 | 87% | 4 | 2% |
| 24 | Cranleigh Surrey | B | 2.5 | 20% | 4.3 | 38% |
| 25 | Corsham Wiltshire | B | 1.9 | 81% | 3 | 31% |
| 26 | Baldock Hertfordshire | B | 2.1 | 91% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 27 | Ludlow Shropshire | B | 2.3 | 92% | 2.1 | 16% |
| 28 | Great Dunmow Essex | B | 2 | 92% | 4 | 0% |
| 29 | Gillingham Dorset | B | 1.9 | 91% | 2.6 | 3% |
| 30 | Horbury West Yorkshire | B− | 2.5 | 75% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 31 | Monmouth Gwent | B− | 1.5 | 69% | 3.1 | 45% |
| 32 | Oswaldtwistle Lancashire | B− | 1.1 | 94% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 33 | Radstock Somerset | B− | 1.1 | 93% | 2.9 | 1% |
| 34 | Filton Gloucestershire | B− | 3.3 | 40% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 35 | Mold Clwyd | C+ | 1.9 | 86% | 1.6 | 17% |
| 36 | Baglan West Glamorgan | C+ | 2.5 | 69% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 37 | Liskeard Cornwall | C+ | 0.8 | 89% | 2.7 | 6% |
| 38 | Raunds Northamptonshire | C+ | 4.7 | 74% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 39 | Abertillery Gwent | C | 2.4 | 69% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 40 | Selsey West Sussex | C | 1.6 | 79% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 41 | Earl Shilton Leicestershire | C | 1.5 | 98% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 42 | Barnham West Sussex | C | 1.3 | 70% | 2.3 | 32% |
| 43 | Kippax West Yorkshire | C | 1.4 | 80% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 44 | Catshill Worcestershire | C | 1.4 | 82% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 45 | Prudhoe Northumberland | C− | 1.7 | 37% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 46 | Epping Essex | C− | 1.2 | 70% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 47 | Hexham Northumberland | C− | 1.5 | 64% | 2 | 9% |
| 48 | Chatteris Cambridgeshire | C− | 1.4 | 94% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 49 | Polegate East Sussex | C− | 0.8 | 64% | 2.2 | 24% |
| 50 | Lutterworth Leicestershire | C− | 1.7 | 83% | 2 | 0% |
| 51 | West Moors Dorset | C− | 0.9 | 33% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 52 | New Ollerton and Ollerton Nottinghamshire | C− | 0.8 | 80% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 53 | Dinnington South Yorkshire | C− | 1.1 | 81% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 54 | Haxby North Yorkshire | D | 0.6 | 59% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 55 | Newtown Powys | D | 2.3 | 65% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 56 | Sherborne Dorset | D | 1.2 | 76% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 57 | Longton Lancashire | D | 1.7 | 60% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 58 | Burton Latimer Northamptonshire | D | 0.9 | 62% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 59 | Pocklington East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 1.6 | 65% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 60 | Ponteland Northumberland | D− | 1.1 | 36% | 1.4 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Cranleigh’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Cranleigh
The biggest is Cranleigh Common, 7.2 ha (18 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
Cranleigh Common
Park or garden
7.2 ha (18 acres)1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
10 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.7 mi westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
2 in 10 Cranleigh residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (20%)Further (80%)
Cranleigh20%
Towns its size81%
Surrey towns75%
All UK towns83%
About 8,400 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 22 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 474 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
National Parks and National Landscapes around Cranleigh
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Landscape
Surrey Hills
At the edge north422 km²since 195838% of the land within 5 km
Official site38% of the land within 5 km of Cranleigh is National Park or National Landscape, more than 87% of UK towns. South Downs National Park covers 1,653 km² and has been a National Park since 2010.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
3 waymarked walks pass through or near Cranleigh
94 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Cranleigh and the kilometre around it, 4.3 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
Regional
Wey-South Path7.7 km
Downs Link7.2 km
Greensand Way3.8 km
3 regional routes pass through, including the Wey-South Path, Downs Link and Greensand Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Cranleigh: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.6 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 93 | 64 | 54 | 54 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 62 | 65 | 94 | 96 | 92 |
May is the driest month (50 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 23 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 96 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 49 nights a year. The climate in Cranleigh →
Things to do
6 viewpoints, 22 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
6Viewpoints3Hills and peaks1Nature reserves1Picnic sites22Playgroundsabout the same as towns its size
The nearest beaches
Cranleigh is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Penguin Beach14 mi from Cranleigh’s edge
DirectionsAmity Beach17 mi from Cranleigh’s edge
DirectionsLancing Beach22 mi from Cranleigh’s edge
DirectionsWorthing Beach22 mi from Cranleigh’s edge
DirectionsLittlehampton East Beach23 mi from Cranleigh’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 6
Plus 6 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 3
Reynards Hill1.0 mi from town
DirectionsWinterfold Hill1.1 mi from town
DirectionsPitch Hill257 m (843 ft) · 1.1 mi from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Smithwood Common (North)0.7 mi from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 1
Plus 1 picnic site without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
EwhurstShamley GreenRudgwickBramley and WonershLoxwoodGomshallCranleigh
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranleigh | B | 2.5 | 20% | 38% |
| Ewhurst 2.0 mi | A | 4.3 | 76% | 46% |
| Shamley Green 3.4 mi | A | 2.9 | 100% | 69% |
| Rudgwick 3.9 mi | C− | 2.5 | 16% | 0% |
| Bramley and Wonersh 4.7 mi | B+ | 1.7 | 77% | 59% |
| Loxwood 4.8 mi | D | 0.0 | 0% | 0% |
| Gomshall 5.4 mi | A | 1.9 | 89% | 87% |
Shamley Green, 3.4 miles away, grades A, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park.
Questions about the outdoors in Cranleigh
What is the biggest park in Cranleigh?
Cranleigh Common, 7.2 ha (18 acres), with 1.9 km of path. Cranleigh Common (7.2 ha) is second. 2 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Cranleigh near a National Park?
Yes. South Downs National Park begins 5.9 mi south-west of the town’s edge. It covers 1,653 km² and has been a National Park since 2010. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the Surrey Hills National Landscape, at the edge of the town.
What are the best walks near Cranleigh?
3 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Wey-South Path, Downs Link and Greensand Way.
What is the nearest beach to Cranleigh?
Penguin Beach, 14 mi from the edge of the town, then Amity Beach (17 mi). Cranleigh itself is inland.
How many people in Cranleigh live near a park?
20% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Cranleigh?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Cranleigh good for walking?
For paths, yes: 4.3 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 85% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 60% (2.5 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Cranleigh’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Cranleigh’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.