Walking the North Downs from Tatsfield: what to know before you set out

Tatsfield sits high up on the chalk of the North Downs, and the North Downs Way passes close by. That makes the village green a good place to start or finish a walk, and a good place to stop for coffee halfway. Here are a few things worth knowing before you set off.

Follow the acorn

The North Downs Way is a National Trail, waymarked with an acorn symbol on posts and stiles. It runs along the top and the side of the Downs, so expect some steep stretches up and down the escarpment, and wide views south over the Weald on a clear day.

Take a proper map

Phone signal comes and goes on the Downs, and a battery runs down faster in the cold. Take a paper Ordnance Survey map of the area, or download one to your phone before you leave. Plan a circular route if you've come by car, so you finish where you parked.

Chalk is slippery

Chalk paths that are firm in summer turn to grease after rain, and the woods hold the mud well into spring. Boots with a good grip are worth it from October to April, and walking poles help on the steeper slopes.

Dogs and livestock

Some of the fields on the Downs have sheep or cattle in them. Keep dogs on a lead where there is livestock, close gates behind you, and keep to the path.

Light and weather

In winter the light goes early, so start in the morning and allow more time than the distance suggests: hills slow everyone down. It can be windier and colder on the top than in the valley, so take a layer more than you think you need.

Somewhere to stop

We're on Westmore Green in the middle of the village, with coffee, breakfast and lunch, and parking available. If you'd like to make a weekend of it, our rooms upstairs make a good base for two or three days of walking.