Dogging in Surrey: area guide
Surrey is a wooded commuter county with fast roads, frequent trains and dark lanes between the towns. This guide covers the lie of the land, daylight by month and how to travel safely. It does not list private spots.
- The lie of the land
- Getting about safely
- Daylight through the year
- The law and your safety
- Questions about Surrey
- Nearby areas
The lie of the land in Surrey
Surrey lies south-west of London, with Guildford as its county town. Woking, Epsom, Reigate, Redhill, Dorking, Farnham, Godalming, Camberley, Leatherhead and Staines-upon-Thames are the other main centres. Many sit within a short journey of the M25, so people often cross the county quickly.
The Surrey Hills National Landscape runs along the North Downs from Farnham to the Kent border and across the Greensand Ridge in the south. Heathland covers the west around Camberley and the Thames Basin Heaths. The Weald in the south, near Cranleigh and Ewhurst, is clay country with sunken lanes and thick woods. Surrey is one of the most wooded counties in England.
Because there is so much cover, you can be a few minutes from a station and still on an unlit road with no houses. Busy towns sit beside deep countryside. Some quiet spots fill up for no clear reason, which is another reason this guide describes the county and leaves places out.
Getting about safely
The M25 cuts through the north and east, and the M3 serves Camberley and the north-west. The A3 is the main route from Guildford to London and to Portsmouth, the A31 Hog's Back runs west from Guildford to Farnham, and the A24, A23 and A22 head south. The M23 starts near Redhill. Crashes and roadworks on the M25 and A3 jam the whole county.
South Western Railway runs from London Waterloo to Woking, Guildford, Farnham and Epsom. The Brighton Main Line stops at Redhill and Gatwick Airport sits just south of the county line. The North Downs line links Guildford, Dorking and Redhill. Last trains from London usually leave around midnight, and some branch lines stop sooner. Check before you go.
South of the M25, many lanes are narrow, sunken and unlit, with tree cover that hides bends and makes fog and frost worse. The Hog's Back is exposed and can be icy. Deer are common on roads at dusk. Heath fires in dry summers can close roads and fill the air with smoke. Signal can fail in the Weald and the deep valleys. Share your location and keep your phone charged.
Daylight in Surrey through the year
Typical times for Guildford, in UK local time, around the middle of each month. Use them to plan your journey home as well as your arrival.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Dusk ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:00 | 16:23 | 17:02 |
| February | 07:16 | 17:17 | 17:52 |
| March | 06:17 | 18:06 | 18:39 |
| April | 06:08 | 19:57 | 20:33 |
| May | 05:12 | 20:45 | 21:27 |
| June | 04:46 | 21:19 | 22:07 |
| July | 05:04 | 21:11 | 21:56 |
| August | 05:48 | 20:24 | 21:02 |
| September | 06:37 | 19:17 | 19:51 |
| October | 07:25 | 18:09 | 18:43 |
| November | 07:19 | 16:13 | 16:51 |
| December | 08:00 | 15:54 | 16:34 |
Dusk ends is when civil twilight finishes, usually 30 to 50 minutes after sunset in southern England and longer further north. After that you need lights. Times shift by a few minutes across the area.
The law and your safety
England and Wales: sex outdoors is not automatically an offence. It can become one if members of the public are likely to see it. Charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust give the same advice. Read their public sex environments guide.
Wherever you are, the basics don't change. Get a clear yes from everyone. Tell someone where you're going. Stay sober. Keep out of sight of anyone who hasn't agreed to see you. Use condoms, and use a new one with each partner.
Questions about Surrey
Is dogging legal in Surrey?
Having sex outdoors is not automatically a crime in England and Wales. It becomes an offence when members of the public can see it, for example outraging public decency or indecent exposure. Sex in a public toilet is an offence. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do you list dogging spots in Surrey?
No. This guide covers the area, not private places. We don't name car parks, lay-bys or woods, because other people use them too and visitors can end up in trouble.
Does the Surrey guide include Staines and Spelthorne?
Yes. Staines-upon-Thames and the rest of Spelthorne are in Surrey, close to Heathrow and the western London boroughs. If you travel from nearby boroughs, use the Greater London guide too.
Why do Surrey evenings feel so dark?
Heavy tree cover and few street lights outside towns make roads dark soon after sunset. Check the daylight table, take extra care on sunken lanes and watch for deer.
Nearby areas
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