M25 Junction 5 Ide Hill The Woodman 01732 750296 ££ Back to M25
5 mins. Take the A21 Junction for Sevenoaks and take the B2042. The Woodman, at Goathurst Common, is on the left hand side of the road and is well sign posted on the opposite side, which you see as you turn a corner.
Food and coffee served all day seven days a week.
Welcoming old-world pub with a great selection of vegetarian, vegan and healthy meals.
A red brick alehouse dating back to the 1800's, nestling below the road in a lovely countryside setting. There's outside seating in well kept grounds and lots of parking. Inside the seating is arranged in lots of nooks and crannies, which adds to the experience of stepping back in time.
A modern menu is on offer though, and from a choice of five vegetarian dishes, we had Pumpkin, Goats Cheese and Vegetable Layered Pie and Indonesian Tofu and Green Bean Curry. These were really tasty and served with a good selection of sides, such as the well made naan bread with the curry. There was also Jacket Potatoes, Salad Bowls and a large choice of Sandwiches. For the non-drivers there's a good wine list served by the glass. A young friendly staff served the food fairly quickly and were keen to help. Well-recommended all round!
Dave from Kent adds: "Really, really good food and lots of it. Highly Recommended. Staff and management very helpful, I could not fault it and will return."
M25 Junction 8 Reigate National Trust £
Less than 1 min. Take the A217 towards Reigate and immediately take a left, signposted to Merstham. Again immediately, follow the 'P' signs for the car park.
A free car park in the middle of National Trust owned land, with stunning south facing views. Excellent spot for a picnic and the NT run an outlet on site selling hot and cold snacks and drinks, including a choice for vegetarians and good coffee. There are also toilets.
M25 Junction 8 Reigate Heath Skimmington Castle 01737 243100 ££ Back to M25
8/9 mins. Take the A217 towards Reigate. As you enter the town follow the road round to the left, but take the right lane for a right turn onto the A25 towards Dorking. As you drive through the main street take the middle lane to keep following the A25. After 1/2 mile pass the Black Horse pub on the left and take a left turn into Flanchford Road. Follow the road for nearly 1/2 mile with the green on your right and take a left into Bonny's Lane, just past car parks on both sides. Follow the path, which crosses a golf course and at the fork, follow the sign for Skimmington Castle to the right. There is plenty of car parking behind the pub.
Open Mon to Fri 11am-3pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 11am-3pm, 6pm - 11pm Sun 12pm-10:30pm
A hidden gem with an excellent selection of vegetarian and healthy food, attractive surroundings and friendly service. Basic vegan options. Welcomes children.
Skimmington Castle comes highly recommended as an extremely attractive place to stop, with very good food and, despite its popularity, quick, friendly service. We were there on a Sunday with two vegetarian options on the Sunday roast menu of Brie and Broccoli Bake and a Roast Vegetable Lasagne. Jackets, sandwiches, ploughmans, salads and bar snacks (chips, onion rings etc) also available. All served with a delicious pot of tea! Reigate Heath also offers lots of walking trails and open space for children to run around in.
M25 Junction 9 Leatherhead The Star 01372 842416 ££ Back to M25
3 mins. At the junction follow signs for the A243 to Chessington World of Adventure. The pub is on the A243 on the left hand side.
Food served 7 days a week, 12 - 9pm. Booking recommended at busy times.
A welcoming historic building with modern decoration and a log fire burns on cold days. An excellent veggie choice, with healthy options, but a limited vegan choice on the menu, although staff willing to help with special diet requests. Welcomes children
We ate here on a Sunday, so we booked in and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. We asked about a wheat-free veggie option, as there were none on the Sunday menu and they said they would do a Nut Roast, which was then waiting for us when we arrived. The roast was made with big nut chunks and a good herby flavour and came with roast potatoes, vegetables and a veggie gravy. We also had the Baked Field Mushroom, which was filled with garlic cream cheese and spinach, topped with a pastry lattice and served with a red pepper sauce, new potatoes and vegetables. It was also excellent with a gently garlicky filling and rich sauce. Sadly we were too full for dessert, but coffees were good! Highly recommended. The Star website.
M25 Junction 10 Byfleet The Queen's Head 01932 347 272 ££ Back to M25
5 mins. Take the A3 NE, then turn off onto the A425. At the 4 roundabouts go straight ahead through the town. The Queen's Head is on the right as you exit the town again, just before the bridge which goes over the river and the motorway, and opposite the cricket club.
Food served Mon - Sat 11 - 3
A nicely decorate pub with an excellent healthy menu and a good choice of vegetarian food, but rather limited for vegans. Welcomes children.
Its a shame The Queen's Head doesn't serve food for longer hours as it's a pub with a very pleasant atmosphere and an upmarket, healthy menu. A couple of vegetarian main courses and salads as well as another two choices on the specials board, including a spinach and ricotta crespelle and the day we were there a delicious sounding hot aubergine dish. Also excellent desserts, teas and coffees.
M25 Junction 10 Ockham Ockham Common and Ockham Bites 01932 866641 £ Back to M25
2mins. Take the A3 SW towards Guildford, and take the left turn on the slip road before joining the A3 proper, signposted Effingham, Old Lane. Very shortly afterwards turn left into the 'Bolder Mere' car park. To return to the M25 take the A3 to the next junction and turn around at the roundabout.
A pleasant picnic spot surrounded by woodland, and plenty of walking trails. Indoor picnic tables and toilets available. A tea bar serves hot drinks and snacks.
Although it's too close to the A3 to be peaceful, this is a great place for a quick break with Ockham Common providing plenty of space to stretch your legs. For a good walk, follow the path through woodland to the Semaphore Tower (about 20mins open April to October). Ockham Bites have a good range of toasted sandwiches, paninis, hot pies and sweet snacks. The option to choose your own panini fillings is a good one for vegans.
M25 Junction 10 Ockham The Black Swan 01932 862 364 ££ Back to M25
5 mins. Take the A3 SW towards Guildford, and take the left turn on the slip road before joining the A3 proper, signposted Effingham, Old Lane. Follow Old Lane for a couple of minutes to reach a crossroads and The Black Swan is on the left. Take the left turn and the car park is behind the pub on the left. To return to the M25 go back to the A3 and go to the next junction, then turn around at the roundabout.
Food served 11am - 11pm Mon-Thurs; 11am - midnight Fri-Sat; 11am - 10.30pm Sun. Booking recommended at busy times.
A gastro pub with a great atmosphere, friendly staff and real fires. A small vegetarian and vegan selection, but the food is very good.
A recent refurbishment following purchase by the Geronimo Inns chain has successfully turned The Black Swan into a 'destination' gastro pub. A daily menu with an emphasis on local food producers promises good things. We had a cannelloni of creamed wild mushrooms and peas and chargrilled Mediterranean vegetables with hummous and chipotle ketchup in a grilled wrap with chips and salad. Both were delicious and the wrap was vegan although it should be noted that the cannelloni was topped with parmesan. The soup of the day was also vegan and a ploughman's could be made veggie. A good selection of veggie sides means there should always be something good to be had even when the small veggie choice of the day doesn't suit.
M25 Junction 10 Cobham Painshill Park 01932 862 364 £ Back to M25
5 mins. Take the A3 north towards London. At the roundabout take the A245 to the right towards Cobham. Just after the junction with the A307 follow the sign and turn right into the car park.
Open 10.30am to 6pm in summer, 4pm in winter (or closes at dusk if earlier).
There is a fee to enter the park itself, but you can eat in the cafe without paying and the car park is also free. A good vegetarian, vegan and healthy selection in the pleasant cafe with extra outdoor seating. The park is described a 'living work of art', with lovely views and walks, as well as the wonderful follies of 18th century creator Charles Hamilton. The park is also ideal for picnics and people do eat their own food in the outdoor area of the cafe. The car park also has a couple of quiet grassy corners if you want a quicker stop! www.painshill.co.uk
The cafe offers simple, but well prepared food and plenty of choice. We had jacket potatoes with a mixed bean veggie chilli, which was robust and flavourful with a gentle chilli hit and came with a good mixed side salad. There were a couple of other veggie options, including a broccoli bake, vegetable pasties and sandwiches which could be freshly made to order.
M25 Junction 11 Chobham Back to M25
4 mins. Follow the signs to Chobham along the A319. At the T-junction, turn left to stick to the A319 and enter Chobham village. Park in the large village car park on the left.
Chobham makes an excellent stop with a choice of cafes, restaurants and pubs to eat in. There is also a common for walks or picnics, which is one of the largest areas of heathland in Surrey and a designated National Nature Reserve. There are toilets in the car park.
M25 Junction 11 Chobham Pasha Deli 01276 859 004 £ Back to M25
4 mins. Follow the signs to Chobham along the A319. At the T-junction, turn left to stick to the A319 and enter Chobham village. Park in the large village car park on the left. When you come out of the car park, turn left and left again the roundabout to the High Street. Pasha is at number 13.
Open from 8am to late afternoon.
Pasha is an attractive and friendly cafe restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and meze, specialising in Turkish cuisine. An excellent vegetarian selection and quite a few vegan options on their meze menu.
We had a feta and potato durum, a turkish flatbread served as a wrap, and a jacket potato. Both were good, but the durum especially so, and were served with an excellent, fresh and well seasoned small side salad. The cafe itself is relaxing and clearly a local gathering point as the staff seemed to know lots of the customers!
M25 Junction 11 Ottershaw Back to M25
1 min. Follow the signs to Woking and Chobham. At the roundabout take a left then a right at the black 'Ottershaw' sign.
A small village with a main street with several options for finding vegetarian food and a park for a picnic or a stroll. There is a Harvester restaurant on the roundabout, and once you enter the main street there is The Park Bakery with cafe and an Indian restaurant. There is also a Londis supermarket with friendly 7 day a week service for take away snacks.