Discover Ripley: Markets, Gardens and Walks

Ripley combines culture, local markets and peaceful countryside experiences with a remarkable history. Anyone planning a trip with varied interests will find opportunities here to explore the museum, garden culture, walking routes and special events. When choosing a holiday apartment in Ripley, it is therefore worth first deciding what character you want your days to have: should the focus be on regional experiences, historic places or outdoor activity?

Culture and History in Ripley

A key cultural point of reference is the Send & Ripley Museum. It is a museum accredited by Arts Council England and adds a local perspective to your stay. For travellers who want to get to know the area through more than just its landscapes and events, it provides a dedicated activity centred on history and culture.

The village centre also tells stories of the past. Ripley’s marketplace was known as “The Green” in the 18th century. Dunsborough Park in Ripley, Surrey, dates back to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The 100-acre estate includes a series of historic gardens designed with sightlines and garden architecture. The gardens at Dunsborough Park were reopened to the public in 1997 following restoration by Dolf Sweerts de Landas Wyborgh and his wife Caroline. These details make Dunsborough Park an interesting subject for anyone wishing to include gardens and historical context in their trip.

Markets, Regional Produce and Special Dates

The Ripley Farmers’ Market takes place on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 1pm at Ripley Green. The June market brings together more than 70 local producers and includes local wine, beer and spirits producers, as well as live music. This makes it possible to plan a stay around regional produce and market activity without structuring the entire day around a single attraction.

The annual calendar also includes a range of events. At St Mary Magdalen, Ripley, a “Cyclists Service” takes place every May, attended by many cyclists on historic bicycles. Ripley holds a Christmas Fair on the first Sunday in December every year. The Ripley Event takes place in July. Depending on when you travel, these dates can give your stay a particular focus; for past or seasonally bound events, you should base your specific plans on the date in question.

Circular Routes by the Water and on the Common

For an active break, the “Ripley ramble circular walk” offers a flat circular route around Papercourt Lake, through open fields and along a short section of the River Wey Navigations. The route begins and ends at free car parks on Ripley Green. This clear start-and-finish structure can be useful when planning your day if you prefer a manageable circular walk and want to combine it with time on Ripley Green.

Another option is provided by the “Exploring Ripley” walk, which runs along the edge of Ripley Common. The two walking routes have different focuses: one circular route follows the lake, fields and the River Wey Navigations, while the other takes in the edge of the Common. This means you can choose the walk that best suits your preferred landscape and plans for the day. Ripley’s history of recreational cycling also stretches back a long way: in the early years of recreational cycling, Ripley was an important destination.

The Right Base for Your Trip

A holiday apartment in Ripley can be a suitable base for a trip combining market dates, culture and walks. What matters is less having the longest possible list of activities than deciding which experiences are important to you and when you are travelling. Visiting a market requires different planning priorities from attending the Christmas Fair in December or the “Cyclists Service” in May. Those focusing on activity can compare the two walks; those interested in local characteristics can give the museum, marketplace and Farmers’ Market greater prominence in their travel plans.

For further orientation, you can also look at Peasmarsh, Godstone, Sunbury-On-Thames, Ewhurst, Albury, West Molesey, Bookham and Salfords.

For the broader travel overview: Surrey.