Short birdwatching visit · Surrey County Council / Surrey Wildlife Trust
Chobham Common
- Tier
- Worth a special trip
- Best season
- May to September
- Headline birds
- Dartford Warbler · Nightjar · Hobby
- Parking
- Six car parks include Staple Hill, Jubilee Mount, Long Cross, Fishpool Road, Monument and Roundabout.
- Hides
- Not stated by the operator
- Step-free
- The Trust does not describe the wider reserve as suitable for wheelchairs or serious mobility difficulties; it separately notes a hard track at Longcross for summer mobility vehicles.
Near Chobham and Longcross · KT16 0ED
Chobham Common is an extensive lowland heathland reserve with open heather, scrub and woodland. Surrey Wildlife Trust names Dartford Warbler, Hobby and Nightjar among its birds, giving a birding purpose to a visit beyond the walking routes. Several separate car parks provide public approaches to different parts of the common. Its size and sandy path network make this more suited to an unhurried heathland walk than a short circuit around a single viewpoint. Cattle graze parts of the reserve as part of the habitat management.
When to go and where to look
May to September is Surrey Wildlife Trust’s suggested period for visiting Chobham Common. Its Dartford Warbler, Nightjar and Hobby interest makes a slow heathland walk worthwhile, but the reserve’s size means choosing one manageable area before setting off. Use a named public car park and follow the existing paths through the heather, scrub and woodland edges. Pause to listen and scan without approaching birds across the vegetation. Paths can be sandy, steep and uneven; the summer hard track from Longcross is a separate mobility-vehicle option, not an accessible circuit of the whole common. Allow for grazing cattle and keep dogs controlled.
Sources: Surrey County Council / Surrey Wildlife Trust: visitor access and site information. Planning reviewed 2026-10-27.
Birds and seasons
- Dartford Warbler · Headline bird — Season not stated by source Source for Dartford Warbler
- Nightjar · Headline bird — Season not stated by source Source for Nightjar
- Hobby · Headline bird — Season not stated by source Source for Hobby
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Paths
- Paths can be steep, uneven and sandy; there are no accessible guided trails.
- Toilets
- The Wildlife Trust lists no toilets or refreshments on site.
- Parking
- Six car parks include Staple Hill, Jubilee Mount, Long Cross, Fishpool Road, Monument and Roundabout.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs under effective control, including around grazing cattle.
- Access notes
- The Trust does not describe the wider reserve as suitable for wheelchairs or serious mobility difficulties; it separately notes a hard track at Longcross for summer mobility vehicles.
- Step-free access
- The Trust does not describe the wider reserve as suitable for wheelchairs or serious mobility difficulties; it separately notes a hard track at Longcross for summer mobility vehicles.
Getting there: The map pin represents the operator’s reserve grid reference, not an individual car park. Choose a named car park from the operator’s access information before travelling.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Wisley and Ockham Commons and Chatley Heath · 7.5 straight-line miles
- Bookham Commons · 11.2 straight-line miles
- Hazeley Heath · 14.2 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: WWT London Wetland Centre, 17.3 miles away in a straight line.
- Englemere Pond · 4.9 miles in a straight line
- Wisley and Ockham Commons and Chatley Heath · 7.5 miles in a straight line
- Haymill Valley · 10.9 miles in a straight line