Leith Hill Tower - Surrey Hill Hike

Leith Hill Tower stands at the highest point of the Surrey Hills, a quiet landmark that blends natural beauty, local history, and wide-reaching views. Rising above woodland and heath, the tower has long drawn walkers and visitors seeking perspective over the surrounding countryside. While modest in scale, its significance lies in its close connection to the landscape and cultural history of the area.

Leith Hill reaches around 1,029 feet (313 metres) above sea level, making it the highest point in south-east England. The tower, adding a further 60 feet, was built in 1765 by Richard Hull of Leith Hill Place. Intended as a viewing platform and landscape feature, it reflects the fashion of the time for ornamental “folly” towers rather than any defensive purpose.

Built from local sandstone, the tower is square in plan with narrow windows and a crenellated top. A spiral staircase leads to the roof, where clear days offer views across the Surrey Hills, the South Downs, and even London. This contrast between rural calm and distant urban life is one of its defining qualities.

The tower sits within ancient woodland of oak, beech, and chestnut, with well-used footpaths and clear seasonal change. Nearby Leith Hill Place was once home to composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, whose work was closely tied to the English countryside.

After falling into disrepair, the tower was gifted to the National Trust in 1944 and has since been preserved for public access. Today, it remains a popular but peaceful destination, valued not for grandeur, but for perspective, simplicity, and its enduring place in the Surrey Hills landscape.