This is the last of my five series of walks on the North Downs that all interlink at some point – from west to east they are the Hognore Hike, Downland Diversion, Trottiscliffe Trail, Birling Loop and Snodland Circuit.
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The recommended route (approximately 4.5 miles) begins at the Visitor Centre of Trosley Country Park, following the first 6 caches of the Hognore Hike series (HH00 - HH05) and then picking up the Downland Diversion series (DD01 - DD19), which will bring you back to the Visitor Centre. The walk initially descends the escarpment via the North Downs Way and then follows the Pilgrims Way. After a stroll through fields and meadows below the North Downs towards Trosley Court, the ramble continues along a path through chalk grassland, before taking a diagonal path up the escarpment to finish with a stroll through the country park.
This route gives access to a total of 25 caches - 19 traditional, 5 multi and one ‘unknown’, which is a ‘bonus’ cache that requires numbers to be collected from some of the caches up to DD16. I have inserted prompts in the hints where numbers need to be collected. The bonus cache can be found by taking a short diversion from the circuit after finding DD16.
Four caches in the Downland Diversion series have been placed with the kind permission of the National Trust and two are located in an area that has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with the kind permission of Natural England.
An alternative route, bypassing the walk through Hognore Wood, can be done by completing the caches in the order DD19, DD6-DD16 and DD18. This reduces the distance to a little under 3 miles and the number of caches to 13 (with no bonus available).
To avoid problems for later visitors, please replace the containers carefully, as found, reinstating any camouflage so as not to leave any caches unduly exposed.
The GPS reception is weak at a few locations on the circuit where there is heavy tree cover but the hints should help if this is the case.
Walking boots are recommended for the hike because of the terrain and the fact that some of the footpaths may be muddy after rainfall.
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This cache has been placed with the kind permission of the National Trust. It is accessible from the footpath so please help to preserve the beauty of the natural surroundings by staying on this Public Right of Way being careful at all times to avoid any damage to the environment or disturbance to wildlife.
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