GODSTONE WALKABOUT

The following information has been provided by kind permission of Mrs Angela Sadler
Godstone is a delightful village, which is only 3/4 mile south of junction 6 M25.  A picturesque place to while away some hours.

With its vast green and duck pond, enchanting almshouses and chapel, St Nicolas Church, beautiful walks and the Bay Pond Nature Reserve, run by Surrey Wildlife.

The walks start from the village green, none of them difficult, with only short climbs in some, and including two villages east and west of Godstone.

The Green is the centre of the village.  Cricket has been played here for well over 200 years and football for 100 years.  In days gone by, quoits was played here also.  A number of the trees around the green were lost in the 1987 hurricane and have now been replaced. 

The White Hart [Beefeater] is a 16th century inn and was built in the reign of Richard II.  It was called the Clayton Arms after the Lords of the Manor.  For a period of time it was the only Inn in the country with two names.   The Clayton Arms on one side, The Whyte Hart on the other.  It was also frequently visited by Queen Victoria.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the route directions, we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for changes in details given.   it has to be emphassied that the countryside is not static, hedges and fences can be removed, field boundaries can alter, footpaths can be rerouted and changes of ownership can result in the closure or diversion of some concessionary paths.  Also paths that are easy and pleasant for walking in fine conditions may become slippery, muddy and difficult in wet weather.  So we can in no way be held responsible for any accidents incurred on these walks.

WINDERS HILL
Time : 2 1/2 hours    Parking : on the Green opposite the Whit Hart    Miles : 5 [approx]

Take the path between the White Hart and Nicky C shop, signposted to the Parish Church, pass the village Hall and along the path beside the Bay Pond Nature Reserve. This pond was given to the Surrey Naturalist Trust in 1965 by Miss EJ Lindley, who's family still live in the village.  The pond was dammed in 1611 to power a local gunpowder mill.  Look out for geese, swans, great crested grebes and sometimes heron.
Follow this path all the way to the Church, where you turn left along the lane to the main road.  St Nicholas Church is well worth a visit.  Edmond Seyfang Taylor [alias Walker Miles] has a grave in the east side of the churchyard for more info see History page.
At the main road, cross over and go up Flower, Lane.  Go over the Godstone by pass bridge and continue along the lane to the M25 bridge, getting louder all the time.  Immediately after the bridge, turn right up a public bridleway path, and head up hill through woods to reach a lane.  Cross over and go ahead along the North Downs, following the acorn finger posts all the way, through a clearing and then downhill to reach a cottage at a lane junction.  
Go right, then left, passing South Lodge, along the metalled road.  
pass vineyards on the left, and Winders Hill cottages, to follow the acorn left, down to the road.  
Here we leave the North Downs Way and turn left along the road, passing a farm on the left and cottages on the right, to come to the main road.
Cross the dual carriageway, with care, to Castle View Cottages, and turn right.
Take the public footpath left, at the end of the cottages and head along the track following yellow acorns, over a stile and follow the path to an open area.
Go right with the track uphill, to climb a stile in the right hand corner of the field.  Continue uphill., ignoring all left and right turns, up the right hand side of the field, to enter woods.  Climb steadily to the top to rejoin the wide track of the North Downs Way.. In high summer this path is dotted with buddleia which is covered in butterflies.  Turn left along the path for a quarter of a mile to reach view point, with extensive views to the South to Ashdown Forest and on a clear summers day, the South Downs.  
Cross to the far side of the clearing to a NDW post, and head left along the path.
At an acorn junction post, leave the NDW and head left downhill to another junction of paths.  Still keep heading left downhill, to reach a road.  
Turn left and go over the M25 bridge and pass the Orpheus Centre.  In about 100yeards, take the second stile on the left, just before a right hand bend in the road, and head diagonally right across the field to a stile.
Climb this and follow the enclosed path to a kissing gate, go through and head over the field called Hilly Field and is designated a SSSI.  Slightly left to another kissing gate, go through, turn right and head down the path back to the village green and car park.

A STROLL AROUND THE LAKES
Time : 1 1/4 hrs   Parking : on the Green opposite the White Hart   Miles:  2

Turn right out of the car park exit and head along the road the B2236 [old A22].  Ignore Tilburstow Hilll Road on the right, and pass Hillbrow Cottages.  
Continue along the road for about half a mile to cross a stream.  Here cross the main road and turn right, to pass Church Lane and head for the right hand bend in the road by Fairalls Builders Yard.
Here turn left along the lane, signposted to Tandridge, to go slightly downhill to reach a waterfall on the right, trickle in summer.
Take the stile opposite, to go along an enclosed path between lakes.  Ignore the stile on the right behind the house, by the pond, to bear uphill left to reach a stile.  
Climb and turn left along the track, passing out buildings of Leigh Place.  At a sharp left hand bend, follow the footpath sign near a broken stile on the right and head up the left hand side of the field to reach a fingerpost in 100 yards, where you turn left through a copse out into a field.
Continue downhill along the wide grassy path, round to the right to reach Glebe Water.  Go left around the pond to come to the back of St Nicholas Church.  The Norman's built the original stone church.  The present one being altered around 1872, which involved the widening of the chancel arch.  The earliest known rector was 1304. Charles James Hoare was rector from 1820-1865.  Four of his descendants became rectors, the last being Kenneth Hoare, 1955-1965, an excellent cricketer who play for the village team, he was also an enthusiastic bell ringer, bells are rung for services on Sunday and practice nights is Thursday.
Pass the church on the left hand side to the lychgate and a lane.  To the left are the almshouses, eight self contained homes and a wardens house, with a beautiful chapel, well worth a visit built in 1872 in memory of Mabel Fanny Hunt who died aged 18, her family lived in Wonham House. 
From the lychgate, cross the lane and go ahead along the tarmac public footpath between hedges to pass the Bay Pond Nature Reserve, all the way back to the village green and car park.