Located at the base of the Surrey Hills, the idyllic village of Cranleigh, is one of Surrey’s largest, and boasts stunning properties and plenty of greenery. It was originally known as Cranley, but had to be renamed so not to associate with it’s neighbouring Sussex town, Crawley, in 1867.
Not only is it hailed as one of Surrey’s top places to live, but it’s also deemed one of the safest, with just 37.93 crimes per 1,000 people, according to research by Schofields Insurance . The company analysed data from CrimeRate.co.uk and discovered that Cranleigh is one of 38 small towns identified as having the lowest crime rates.
As Cranleigh is a large village, it had around 50 crimes per 1,000 people, compared to other Surrey locations. According to the Police’s crime map, in February 2024, there were 67 crimes in total, including: 15 violent and sexual offences, nine burglaries, nine other thefts, and 24 other crime-related incidences including things like criminal damage, vehicle crime and arson.
The family-friendly town is adored by people who live there and has a reputation for having a strong community spirit, with plenty to keep you entertained all year round. From Halloween trails to Christmas lights and colourful market stalls, there’s always something to look forward to for those living nearby.
The Three Horseshoes on the village’s High Street was crowned Pub of the Year for 2024 by beer experts at the East and Mid Surrey branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale). The venue has also climbed to become Cranleigh’s second-best-ranked restaurant on Tripadvisor and regularly earns high praise from those who dine there.
The Three Horseshoes is a short 10-minute walk from Cranleigh's popular Knowle Park country park - which opened in summer 2023 . The park offers exciting outdoorsy activities with plenty of incredible walks. Yoga and relaxing sound baths, open-air theatre experiences and live bands putting on a show can all be found on the park’s busy schedule.
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Stunning walks in Cranleigh
Go-to mapping app AllTrails lists various walks that pass within a kilometre of the Three Horseshoes pub or are a short distance from Cranleigh’s High Street and other pubs and cafés. The village itself is highly rated on the site with an average of 4.5 stars from reviews thanks to tracks that link up with the Down’s Link, pass through Knowle Park, or climb to the heights of the Surrey Hills.
Cranleigh and Rowley circular
This 8.4km route heads north out of Cranleigh into the Surrey Hills before veering left towards nearby Rowley. Walkers later link up with the flat Downs Link for nearly a kilometre which traces the High Street and guides them back towards the Three Horseshoes.
Estimates on AllTrials say the walk takes around two-and-a-quarter hours and describe the route as “easy-going”. Woodlands, fields, and country lanes connect the villages with paths said to be perfect for runners and dog walkers.
Cranleigh to Hascombe Hill circular
This nearly 16km route takes in more than 550 metres of elevation and is considered a more challenging route by AllTrails, but one that is worth the effort. It takes between four-and-a-half and five hours and has become popular with walkers, hikers, and runners.
AllTrails described: “This is a longer route with some steep ascents and trails which are often muddy.” It added: “This trail takes you through Knowle Park then on a large circular route through the fields and forests.”
There is said to have been an Iron Age hillfort at the summit of Hascombe Hill. This is as well as a stone circle that was erected in the 1990s, and not ancient times like it may at first appear.
Safest small village
St Martha's, civil parish near Guildford, was named Surrey's safest 'small village'. St Martha’s has gorgeous church in the Surrey Hills, with wonderful walks leading to it. With this parish is the village of Chilworth which also records low levels of crime. According to the Police’s crime map, in February 2024, there were two reports of anti-social behaviour, and one incident relating violent or sexual crime.
The River Tillingbourne passes through the village, and roughly according to Zoopla, the average house sale price is £525,621. However, don’t let that reasonably decent average house price disillusion you, Chilworth has some eye-popping country mansions, on the market currently for around £1.5 million. From Chilworth, you could be in London in as little as an hour.
Cranleigh’s nearest stations are either Shalford, Redhill or Horsham. The closest it probably Shalford, but it’s around a seven-mile drive away, unless you’re a mega-fast speed walker, it’s not going to be so easy to get to, not to mention car parking costs.
The area of St Martha's (and Chilworth within it) even got a shout out on social media recently as being a particularly safe place. Someone took to Reddit to ask "I'm, looking for a safe area to raise a family with good schools etc, friendly and civilised people, good sized property with a £600k budget.. and good transport links to central London. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated!"
A user replied: "I'd suggest Chilworth. A small village in the Surrey Hills with three great schools and a wonderful backdrop of St Martha's hill and the Chantry Woods. Much cheaper than neighbouring Albury and Shere further afield. Chilworth has a station that can get you to Guildford or Gatwick."
It's clear that both destinations are considerably desirable, with so much to offer and low crime rates. Whether it's a remote community-driven village with lots to do, or a quiet countryside hamlet with quick links to London, both are a fab option to anyone looking to make the move to Surrey.
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