Sponsored Walk 2025

It is always the highlight of the many activities The Ashcombe School offers at the end of term - the 10 mile Sponsored Walk through the Surrey Hills, involving Years 7-10 as walkers and Year 12 as enthusiastic marshals encouraging and celebrating students and staff as they pass by. 

With well over 700 students and 140 staff due to set off from the school on the morning of 21st July, all thoughts had been on the weather forecast.  After weeks of heatwave, the weather had taken a turn for the worse in the preceeding few days, and the forecast looked like thundery showers and heavy rain.  The day dawned surprisingly fair and after checking all the data, the walk went ahead with much enthusiasm.

Year 7 set off first, eager to get away and they set a remarkable pace, soon followed by Years 8,9 and 10. Up the Ashcombe Road and into Denbies to start the climb up to some of the best views of Dorking.  Then the chance for a stop at the first checkpoint to refill water bottles and pick up a blister plaster!. Down to Tanners Hatch and then out towards Polesden Lacey with a second checkpoint to see the walkers safely across the road. Then it was on to Westhumble and the welcome vistas of Denbies on the home stretch. Whew!

It was a great day and helped to meet our target for fundraising for improvements to the school facilities - the great toilet transformation!  Well done to everyone involved - staff and students alike.