St Martha's Hill is in Surrey, between the town of Guildford and the village of Chilworth. It lays by the Pilgrims' Way, the historical route supposedly taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury - a walk of 119 miles.
St. Martha’s Church, which can only be reached on foot and is also known as St Martha-on-the-Hill, is a listed grade II building, rebuilt in 1848–50 to incorporate many of the original 12th-century architectural features, including Norman arches to the main entrance as well as the windows on the tower.
Although recorded in the Doomsday Book, no trace of the original Saxon chapel remains and, by the early 13th Century, a Norman Church occupied the spot. This building was constructed between 1189 and 1204 and dominated by a tall west tower, creating a landmark which would have been visible for miles around.
Some believe that the church may have been built as a landmark or beacon to assist travellers or encourage pilgrimage to Canterbury or Winchester Cathedrals.
The hill reaches a height of 574 feet (175 m), making it the 18th highest in the county; as with most of the top 20 hills in Surrey, it is part of the Greensand Ridge.