Goldenage Healthcare
Where Heritage Meets Heart in the Surrey Hills
Pilgrim Wood is not an ordinary care home. It is a beautiful 1920s country house, thoughtfully converted to provide 35 residents with a gracious, comfortable place to live. Set in 3 acres of grounds within Surrey’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it feels more like a family estate than an institution.
Managed by Mrs Sharon Marie Mitchell and operated by Goldenage Healthcare Limited, Pilgrim Wood combines the character of a period property — generous rooms, elegant proportions, mature gardens — with the warmth and professionalism of a dedicated care team. Approximately 32 of our 35 rooms have en-suite facilities, and every resident is encouraged to bring their own furniture and belongings to make their room truly theirs.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, our staff demonstrated extraordinary commitment. The team camped in tents in the grounds for six weeks, living on-site to protect residents from the virus. That sacrifice earned them the Great British Care Awards 2020 Covid Heroes award — and it tells you everything you need to know about the people who work here.
What We Offer
Care Shaped Around Each Individual
Whether you need permanent residential care, specialist dementia support with therapeutic programmes, a short respite stay, or day care, Pilgrim Wood provides expert attention in a setting of real beauty and calm.
Residential Care
Our core offering. 35 generously proportioned rooms, approximately 32 with en-suite facilities, within a converted 1920s country house. Person-centred care plans containing detailed information for staff, as noted by CQC inspectors. A genuine home in every sense of the word.
Dementia Care
Specialist dementia support built on four therapeutic approaches: Art Therapy, Memory Therapy, Sensory Therapy, and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. Our stable staff team know each resident’s needs intimately, providing the consistency and familiarity that people living with dementia need most.
Respite Care
A short stay to give a family carer a well-earned break, or to experience life at Pilgrim Wood before making any long-term decisions. Respite residents receive the same warmth, the same menus, and the same personal attention as every permanent resident.
Day Care
Spend the day with us and enjoy freshly prepared meals, activities, and the company of others. Ideal for those who want companionship, stimulation, and expert care without leaving their own home permanently.
Specialist Dementia Therapies
Four dedicated therapeutic programmes — Art Therapy for creative expression, Memory Therapy using reminiscence, Sensory Therapy through touch, sound and light, and Cognitive Stimulation to maintain engagement — all tailored to each individual.
Life at Pilgrim Wood
Where Every Day Has Meaning and Grace
From freshly prepared meals sourced from local suppliers to afternoons in 3 acres of beautiful grounds, life at Pilgrim Wood is shaped by what makes our residents happy.
Freshly Prepared Dining
All meals are prepared fresh on-site by our kitchen team using locally sourced ingredients. We hold a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 out of 5 — the highest possible score. Dietary needs, cultural preferences, and personal tastes are always honoured.
3 Acres of Grounds
Set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, our grounds offer mature gardens, sheltered seating areas, and tranquil walks. The countryside setting brings a sense of peace and space that few care homes can match.
Your Room, Your Home
Generously proportioned rooms within a characterful 1920s house, approximately 32 with en-suite bathrooms. Residents are encouraged to bring their own furniture and belongings. This is your home, and it should feel like it.
What makes Pilgrim Wood special is the combination of its setting and its people. A 1920s country house in 3 acres of AONB countryside, staffed by a team who camped in the grounds for six weeks to protect their residents. That is not a marketing story — that is who they are, every single day.
We operate an open-door visiting policy because we believe family should never feel restricted. We can accommodate overnight visitors, so you can stay close to your loved one whenever you wish. With specialist dementia therapies, freshly prepared meals with a 5/5 food hygiene rating, and a stable staff team who know each resident by name, Pilgrim Wood offers a quality of life and care that is genuinely hard to find.
What Makes Us Different
The Team Who Camped in Tents to Protect Their Residents
During the darkest days of the Covid-19 pandemic, our staff did something extraordinary. They pitched tents in the grounds and lived on-site for six weeks — voluntarily separating from their own families to protect ours.
That sacrifice was not a one-off gesture. It was a reflection of who these people are. The Great British Care Awards 2020 recognised them as Covid Heroes, but the families who trusted us already knew. When the CQC inspected in 2021, they noted that “the staff team had demonstrated admirable commitment during the coronavirus pandemic.”
With around 45 staff members and strong retention, Pilgrim Wood offers the consistency that residents — especially those living with dementia — need most. Familiar faces, familiar routines, and genuine relationships built over time.
“People received consistent care from a stable staff team who knew their needs well.”— CQC Inspection Report, September 2021
Award-Winning Covid Heroes
Great British Care Awards 2020. Staff camped in tents for 6 weeks to shield residents from the virus. Admirable commitment, recognised nationally.
Stable, Dedicated Team
Around 45 staff with excellent retention. Consistent faces and genuine relationships — not a revolving door of agency workers.
Open-Door Visiting
Family and friends welcome at any time. Overnight accommodation available. This is your loved one’s home, and your presence is always valued.
Four Specialist Therapies
Art, Memory, Sensory, and Cognitive Stimulation therapies delivered by trained staff. Meaningful, evidence-based support for those living with dementia.
Quality & Recognition
Good Care, Heroic People
Pilgrim Wood is rated Good in all five CQC categories. Our team’s extraordinary Covid response earned them the Great British Care Awards 2020 Covid Heroes award. We hold a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 out of 5.
“People felt safe at the home and when staff provided their care.”CQC Inspection, September 2021
“People received consistent care from a stable staff team who knew their needs well.”CQC Inspection, September 2021
“The staff team had demonstrated admirable commitment during the coronavirus pandemic.”CQC Inspection, September 2021
“Care plans were person-centred and contained detailed information for staff.”CQC Inspection, September 2021
What Families Say
In Their Own Words
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered here, please do not hesitate to call us on 01483 573 111.
Our Home
Discover Pilgrim Wood
Get in Touch
Arrange a Visit
The best way to understand Pilgrim Wood is to experience it. Walk the grounds, see the house, meet the team, and feel the atmosphere for yourself. A cup of tea, a tour, and an honest conversation about how we can help. No pressure, no obligation.
Contact Details
Address
Sandy Lane
Guildford, Surrey
GU3 1HF
Telephone
Visiting
Open-door visiting policy.
Family welcome at any time.
Overnight accommodation available.