Vale of Holmesdale


The Vale of Holmesdale is a comparatively narrow valley lying at the foot of the North Downs in Surrey and Kent, England. It is a relatively recent term compared to the many historic towns and villages that are in it. It stretches from Sugar Loaf Hill in Folkestone on the Kent coast through Ashford, Harrietsham, Maidstone, Riverhead/Sevenoaks, Oxted, Godstone, Redhill, Reigate, Dorking, Gomshall, Chilworth, Shalford and ending in Guildford.

Geology

Its composition is mainly Gault Clay and Upper Greensand, although the Lower Chalk area at the foot of the Downs is included in the area. The vale gently ascends and descends several times along its length, with higher elevations near Lenham and Westerham, and Wotton acting as drainage divides for the valley's several drainage basins and rivers. Geologically it makes sense to study the whole as a unit.

Rivers

The headwaters of the River Great Stour flows along the vale as does the River Medway for part of its length, further to the west, then do the River Darent, River Mole and River Tillingbourne.

Transport

The M25 runs along the Vale of Holmesdale from its descent into the vale just before Sevenoaks at Junction 5 clockwise, running past Clacket Lane services, before ascending up the downs at Reigate however the A25 road continues on to Guildford in the vale itself.
The Guildford-Redhill railway line runs along the Vale of Holmesdale between Gomshall and Reigate.

Usage of the term

Owing to its separate rivers, it is not in general usage however there is the Holmesdale Building Society founded in Reigate, Holmesdale Community Infants' School and The Holmesdale School in Snodland. The general alternative terms used are simply the gault clay belt mixed with upper greensand, or the separate river valleys, see North Downs and Greensand Ridge for more studied geological concepts. Historically the Pilgrims' Way towns and villages may have been a term used.