The Tandridge border path
Moving to Caterham a year ago, I came across the Tandridge border Path signs on many of my runs. I came up with the plan to run the loop in one go. Originally, I was planning on doing it in the summer, but life got in the way. So, one year to the day I moved I set off to run the border path…
There is no official start or end, or intended direction, to the loop. With this in mind I chose the edge of Coulsdon as my starting point for the loop and then to run it in the clockwise direction. This way I could run a few extra kms to and from home to my adventure. Having plotted the route and the extra to join it, I was off on a 93km adventure.
I set off in the darkness of the first Saturday of 2026 at around 05:00 and reached the first signs for the Border path in Coulsdon Common just before it loops around Kenley airfield. It was approximately 05:30 now as I started navigating the path from Rydon lane, initially on a section of the London loop. The roads to get here were covered in ice and I proceeded slowly with caution not to slip.
I hoped to get to Tatsfield and the near the North Downs way for day break. Most of the initial section was very familiar to me as the path takes you Through Whyteleafe, up near Riddlesdown then over to Farleigh and Fickleshole.
As the path crosses farm land at Chelsham be aware that there are often territorial animals on the path. Previously I’ve been chased by geese here, on this day it was a large black dog which I had to negotiate with. As I neared Tatsfield the sky was starting to warm with glowing orange and red colours of daybreak. There is a village shop and pub in Tatsfield if your timings allow a stop.
The path takes you very briefly along the North Downs Way at Chestnut Avenue before a long stretch of road down Clacket Lane sees you cross the M25 as you make your way towards Limpsfield Common and High Chart.
After this I found the path slower going as it takes you through a lot more farmland. The terrain was uneven and at times difficult to more quickly on. The fields were snow covered and hardened with the frost beneath. Much of this section is along the Vanguard Way before you leave it and head West just North of East Grinstead. But not until after one of the larger, longer climbs on the route by Dry Hill.
As you Navigate around East Grinstead the route takes you towards Dormans Park where you pass the train station (a good potential place to join the path if travelling from elsewhere!). After Dormans the route heads towards one of the more built-up areas near Felbridge. I was around 55km in at this point. I’d planned a diversion to a petrol station, deviating from the path for a km to reach it. This was the only viable place for me to fill up with water and access more food if needed. There are no public taps along the route that I could identify when planning and the few pubs/village stores you pass weren’t options for me due to opening times. I was glad to reach the petrol station and top up on water (I had more than enough food with me).
With the detour and navigating around Felbridge there were quite a lot of icy road sections. Then, from 60-70km the paths were much wetter, saturated with water and mud. My feet were now wet and freezing. There was a nice section just after Felbridge as you ran around a lake set up for fishing activities.
Here the path is still heading West as you near Gatwick and head directly under the flight path of landing planes. Somewhere around the 65km mark (for me) the path edges closer to the M23 and you start heading North as you pass through Burstow. Here the path was unidentifiable and I trudged through frozen, waterlogged fields. The ground was almost indistinguishable as the water had frozen. My shins were shredded by overgrown thorns sticking out and from breaking through the ice layer as I waded through the field, some points almost knee deep in the water. I was glad to eventually find my way out of these fields and back to more obvious paths.
A few km later you near Smallfield (there is another option of a short detour to a Co-Op here if needed) and then shortly you reach Outwood, another place with loads of trails and places to run/walk. From here the path heads North, passing by Redhill, crossing the M23 (note that there is clear access along the marked public footpath through then through the Kings Lodge Care complex) and heading North through Nutfield and up to Merstham (through/around Mercers lake). This felt like a long stretch.
As I reached the M25 crossing and rejoined the North Downs Way again I was presented with a glorious sunset. It felt quite fitting to see the sun rise and set over the North Downs Way! Passing back through Chandon there was a short detour (the footpath was diverted for animal grazing) before reaching Happy Valley and then back through Coulsdon Common. This is where I completed the Tandridge Border Path loop at Rydon’s lane. I kept running and made it home just inside 13 hours covering just under 93km. Happy with that! Without my extra it would have been about 5-6 km and 30ish minutes less for just the loop.
Overall it was a great day. The icy roads made for slow progress and, despite the frozen fields being difficult to run at times, I was glad it was dry and not muddy like these trails could be in worse weather. It’s a great way to explore and see more of Tandridge whilst connecting some trails I’ve become so familiar with. Noting that whilst there are some separate Tandridge Border Path signs, navigation without GPX. could be difficult if you aren’t familiar with the different public footpaths the route uses (London Loop, Vanguard way etc.,).