Repton’s Parkland & Bluebell Woods
Hatchlands Park is a National Trust property set in 430 acres of parkland east of Guildford. The house, built in the 1750s for Admiral Boscawen, contains interiors by Robert Adam and houses the Cobbe Collection – the world’s largest gathering of keyboard instruments associated with famous composers, including instruments played by J.C. Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Elgar.
The grounds were landscaped by Humphry Repton around 1800, and his characteristic style – sweeping lawns, carefully placed tree groups and concealed boundaries – remains clearly legible today. The parkland includes a large bluebell wood that attracts thousands of visitors in late April and early May, and offers several waymarked walks through open countryside with views towards the North Downs.
Music, Events & Access
Hatchlands hosts a season of concerts and recitals featuring instruments from the Cobbe Collection, giving visitors the rare opportunity to hear music performed on the very instruments composers once used. The park is also popular for dog walking, picnics and informal cricket matches on the main lawn.
The estate is reached from the A246 between Guildford and Leatherhead. National Trust members park free; pay-and-display is available for non-members. The small café in the stable block serves light refreshments. Clandon railway station is about a mile from the entrance.
