Mole Valley

Mole Valley is a local government district in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Dorking, and the district's other town is Leatherhead. The largest villages are Ashtead, Fetcham and Great Bookham, in the northern third of the district.

Mole Valley District
Bridge over the River Mole at Leatherhead
Motto(s): 
Ministrando vigilans
(Latin: Vigilant in our serving)
Mole Valley shown within Surrey
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth East England
Non-metropolitan countySurrey
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQDorking
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
  TypeNon-metropolitan district council
  BodyMole Valley District Council
Area
  Total99.7 sq mi (258.3 km2)
  Rank133rd (of 296) Highest point  : Leith Hill
Population
 (2021)
  Total87,608
  Rank270th (of 296)
  Density880/sq mi (340/km2)
  Ethnicity
97.4% White
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code43UE (ONS)
E07000210 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTQ0496458567

Most of the district is on the escarpments of or adjoins the Surrey Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which cover parts of the North Downs and Greensand Ridge, including locally Leith Hill, Polesden Lacey and Box Hill. Denbies Wine Estate, the largest vineyard in the country, is on the hills north-west of Dorking. The Pilgrims' Way footpath runs along the North Downs. There are stations on the LondonWorthing and ReadingGatwick Airport railways, and in the northern third, a commuter stopping-service pattern line, LondonGuildford (via Epsom) line.

The A24 road and the M25 motorway are the main thoroughfares and relative to London the incidence of car ownership is high. The area hosts hill-focussed sub-laps of the London–Surrey Classic cycling tour each year.

The neighbouring districts are Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, Crawley, Horsham, Waverley, Guildford, Elmbridge and Kingston upon Thames, the latter being a London borough.

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