Mole Valley

Mole Valley sits in Surrey, in the South East of England, and covers a mixture of lowland river valley and the scarp of the North Downs. The River Mole runs north–south through the district, cutting the Mole Gap at Box Hill, and the parish landscape includes agricultural land, woodland and vineyards such as Denbies near Dorking. Principal settlements include Dorking, Leatherhead, Ashtead and Bookham, with smaller villages and hamlets clustered along the A24 and A25 corridors. Box Hill’s escarpment and the river corridor shape local drainage and lanes, and the district contains parts of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Transport links combine local roads with rail: the Mole Valley Line and the North Downs Line provide services into London and across Surrey, supporting a mix of commuters and local trade. Economic activity ranges from market town retail and small manufacturing to viticulture and market gardening. Recreation often follows the river and ridges; one local road around Box Hill was used in the 2012 Olympic road race, and there are established footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes that connect settlements and countryside.