Route from Trosley Country Park Vigo.
Distance - approximately 12 miles. 1 steep descent, 1 steep ascent.
Maps - OS Landranger 177.
Starting point - car park Trosley Country Park OS reference 633611 take the Vigo turn off from the A277.
Takes in parts of the North Downs Way, Pilgrim's Way and Weald Way.
Trosley Country Park has good facilities with a new (clean) toilet block, visitor centre and snack shop. Near the black building you will see a path in the trees. Walk towards the information boards in the trees (on the left of the picture). At the information boards turn left (East) along a firm gravelled path, markings along the way refer to it as the red route which makes it sound much harder than it is. The path is flat throughout the length of the park. There are pleasant views to the right (south).
Where the path forks stay right and then ignore all turnings to the left or the right. Shortly after the red route turns left (North) the path rises to a green gate. After the gate the path joins the North Downs Way, turn right (South) at the markers. This is the only steep descent, it can be slippery after rain. At the bottom the path joins the Pilgrim's Way.
To the right is a path to Coldrum Longbarrow. It's about 0.5km / 0.33 mile off the route. The route goes left (ENE) along the pilgrims way. Again there are views to the south. Ignore turnings to the left or the right, at the first crossroads go straight ahead. At the second crossroads turn left, map ref 669620. Climb the gentle rise, the path is clearly marked between 2 fields. At the top of the climb turn right at the marker. This leads into a narrow path which then turns uphill, gently at first then steeply. You will be short of breath at the top!
At the top is a gateway, the nearby fallen tree makes a convenient stopping point. Go through the gate and cross the road in front onto Holly Hill road and follow it.There are pleasant views to the right. As the road forks turn right through the green poles. The poles have prevented larger traffic from using this byway, consequently the undergrowth is starting to encroach and narrow the track. Looking back at one point will show this fellow smiling at you. Again ignore turnings, at some crossroads with a marker go straight ahead.
Eventually you will pass under some power lines and you will see a T-junction where you turn right (East). Very shortly there is another T-juntion where you turn left (NE). After rain this section tends to be pretty muddy so walk through the trees to the right of the track. There are no further deviations on this piece of track and it is fairly flat if a bit muddy until it descends Hatch Hill to the road. On the other side of the road you will see a gate with a gap to the left, this is the path. You can, if you wish, take the road to the right of the gate which will take you directly to the pub (1km ).
Personally I prefer to stay off roads so I take this path and keep to the right of the hedge. Ignore the first turning on the left. Take the second turning on the left. You will find yourself on a pleasant woodland path. At the bottom of the path is a field, you can see Luddesdown Court to the left, our way is through the gap in the hedge. At the end of the path is the entrance to Luddesdown Court, turn right. At the Luddesdown traffic island turn right again. Follow the road for little over 0.5km to the Golden Lion. They serve excellent food and beer and are very welcoming. It takes around 2 and a quarter hours (including photography stops) to walk the 6 miles to this point.
After lunch cross the car park to the right and turn right (South). Climb the road to the footpath sign on the right. Cross into the field and keep the hedge on your left. Follow the path across the field to the hedge opposite, once there keep it on your right. Ignore the first turning on your right (this is the way we took to the pub). Turn right at the second turning on your right (ignored this turn previously). Cross the field, heading towards the top of the hill. You will see Luddesdown Court to your right.
Cross the stile at the top and cross the field to the gate in the opposite and to the left. Cross this stile by the gate and cross the field to a stile in the hedge opposite. Cross the stile and cross the field in a southerly direction to another stile. Continue across the fields on the obvious, indeed dual carriageway (!) path. The last stile brings you up onto the road. Turn right and bear right at the fork. This will take you past Great Buckland Farm. At the top of a 1:4 rise the road bears right, you turn left through a gate in a southwesterley direction.
Follow the path and cross the paddock to another stile. Follow the narrow path with pleasant views to the left. It winds through woodland and scrubland until you reach a field. Cross this field with the hedge to your right until you can join a bridleway. At the fork go straight ahead (ignore right fork). Cross the private road and go through gate opposite, cross the field to the gap in the hedge. Cross the stile and turn left on the road.
After about 0.3km the road bears right, our path goes ahead and left. This path is sometimes overgrown. In which case nipping over the gate and keeping the hedge on your right will bring you to the path in about 25m. Cross the field keeping the hedge on your right. At the white farm buildings stay right and cross the stile onto a narrow path.
At the road turn right and after a few yards cross the road and enter the wood. At the first junction turn right and again the the crossroads. Shortly after turn left at a fork. Then turn left at the T-juntion. Turn right at the fork and then left. Turn left at the road and finally turn right at the gates into Trosley Country Park. Follow the path back to the car park ignoring any turnings to the left or the right.
12 miles, hope you enjoyed it.
Free to print for personal use, not for printing and distribution without prior permission of the author.
© 2005 Peter Martin pete@tomatin.cix.co.uk