Godstone combines village history with green spaces and a variety of routes. At the heart of the village is Godstone Green, a common with a pond that was once used as a horse pond. A circular walk also starts and ends near the pond. When planning your visit, you can distinguish between the village centre, the circular walk and paths through the countryside.
Village Green and Varied Landscapes
The pond on Godstone Green now has a brick surround and a central island. Its former use as a horse pond gives the village centre a historical connection; the surround and island define its present appearance. For more local history, St Nicholas Church preserves fragments of its original Norman construction.
Hilly Fields, a pasture in the village, lies north of Godstone Green. The pond there is a habitat for a protected species of great crested newt. A different landscape characterises Tilburstow Common: the 22-hectare area lies on the Lower Greensand Ridge and consists mainly of mixed woodland. A public bridleway crosses the common. The landscapes described here are therefore quite distinct: from the village green to pasture and then an area that is mostly wooded.
Bay Pond is a private nature reserve managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust. Its features include a wildflower meadow, woodland and a pond used for dip-netting surveys. Its private status is part of what defines this nature area, distinguishing it from the routes described as public paths.
Paths with Different Routes
The Godstone Paths, Ponds and Churches circular walk starts and ends at the village car park beside the pond on Godstone Green. A footpath across Hilly Fields, by contrast, leads towards North Park Farm and continues from there to the chalk escarpment and the North Downs Way. The difference is in the route: one returns to its starting point, while the other continues via named waypoints.
Another option is the Castle Hill–Oxted section of the Greensand Way. It follows a bridleway through woodland; a path also runs below Tilburstow Hill. Along with the circular walk and the footpath across Hilly Fields, this section offers another distinct type of route. You can choose based on whether you would like to plan a circular walk, a path towards the North Downs Way or a section of the Greensand Way.
Church, Events and Godstone Farm
A Village Fete and a Donkey Derby are held on Godstone Green each year over the August bank holiday weekend. Exact dates can vary, so check the date for the relevant year before planning your stay around the events. Together with the Norman remains at St Nicholas, these events add local history and a recurring annual occasion to the area’s landscapes and walking routes.
Godstone Farm has an adventure playground. This adds a specific leisure option to the village green, church and nature attractions for you to consider when choosing activities.
Getting Here and Planning Your Stay
Bus routes 400 and 410 serve Godstone Green. If you plan to use this service, check the timetables before travelling. If you are staying over the August bank holiday weekend, it is also a good idea to check the exact dates of the Village Fete and Donkey Derby.
When looking for a hotel in Godstone, you can start by deciding which activities will shape your stay: the circular walk on the Green, the route across Hilly Fields, a section of the Greensand Way or a visit to an event.
Discover more destinations: Brookwood, Thorpe, Egham, Albury, Capel, Lingfield, Horley, Hindhead
For the broader travel overview: Surrey.
