Reigate Heath

A 61.7-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve, featuring diverse habitats and Bronze Age burial mounds.

Reigate Heath is a designated Local Nature Reserve located just west of Reigate, combining lowland heath with grassland, scattered woodland, and historical landmarks like the windmill-turned-chapel. It’s a scenic and culturally rich site that offers not just varied habitats, but also striking compositions and surprising birdlife. Reigate Heath is part of the FeatherFrame heathland route—ideal for photographers looking to capture open habitats, reptile sunspots, and birdsong at golden hour.

Open Vistas, Heather Texture, and Birdsong Moments

With wide trails lined by heather and gorse, Reigate Heath provides excellent backdrops for seasonal colour and texture. Look out for Dartford warblers flitting through scrub, or green woodpeckers probing the grassland. In summer, butterflies and bees fill the air, while winter brings crisp light across the frost-covered common. Historic features like the windmill chapel offer unique storytelling elements when combined with wildlife scenes. FeatherFrame photographers love this location for calm habitat portraits and patient subject tracking in soft light.

Best Times to Visit:

  • Spring: Green woodpecker activity, heather emerging, and nesting birds

  • Summer: Peak insect life, blooming heather, and early morning bird calls

  • Autumn: Warm tones, golden hour magic, and final flutters of butterfly season

  • Winter: Clear air, frosty grasses, and misty textures around the open heath

Plan Your Visit

  • Free parking available near Flanchford Road (RH2 8AB)

  • Mostly level paths, but open areas can be exposed to sun or wind—dress accordingly

  • Recommended gear: 300mm+ lens for birds, macro lens for insects, and wide-angle for landscape and historic shots

  • FeatherFrame tip: arrive early to catch low sun breaking through heathland mist and keep an ear out for woodpecker drumming

Did you know?

Reigate Heath is a rare surviving example of lowland heath in Surrey and supports species found in few other habitats—like the Dartford warbler and slow worm. It’s also a Scheduled Ancient Monument due to its Iron Age connections and the unique windmill chapel. FeatherFrame celebrates this location as a seamless fusion of history and biodiversity.