Princes Coverts is 864 acres of managed woodland owned by the Crown Estate. It includes, separated by roads, a minor northern woodland beyond Fairoaks Lane, Great Oakes and Sixty Acre Wood, and the irregularly shaped Woodlands Park to the south. The southernmost portion of the very long and quite narrow, almost rectangular Crown Estate has been assigned to and converted to Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People's Training College and its Dorincourt home for the disabled, Woodlands Park Golf Course, Leatherhead, and Tyrwhitt House, a combat stress centre. While the south drains southward to Mole south of the training college, the north, divided by rises, contains three sources of the Rythe and drains northward. The remaining Prince's Coverts area is referred to by the Crown as Oxshott Woods.
History
Prince's Coverts is named after Prince Leopold I of Belgium, who lived at Claremont Park, Esher north-west, which remains linked by a bridleway across Arbrook Common and Farm which has two white-painted metal coal tax posts. The Claremont Estate was purchased for him in 1816. He later acquired nearby common land which became a shooting estate. This area became known as Prince's Coverts. Following his death, the estate was repurchased by the Crown since which it has been managed by the Crown Estate.
Land Features
Jessop's Well - a mineral spa converted to a very small spa house that was built in the mid 18th century. The water was sold for a period for 6d per bottle to owner-occupiers of Berkeley Square, London.
Horns Hill - The highest point of the relatively gentle rises in Prince's Coverts at 260 feet, is one of a series of consisting ofgravel and London clay in a band north of the centre of much higher North Downs where deposits have made for a loam-rich soil. Geologically and in soil terms this range extends through Wimbledon, Streatham Hill, Tulse Hill, Sydenham and Penge.
Access for walkers is permitted. Signs indicate that walkers are welcome. Horse riders require a permit. There are many paths through the woodland. There is a 3.5 mile waymarked trail starting at Prince's Gate. The entrances are:
