Forest bathing at Trosley Country Park

Trosley Country Park covers about 170 acres on the North Downs near Vigo, with woods, meadows and open chalk grassland slopes. It was once part of the Trosley Towers estate, bought by Sir Sydney Waterlow in 1870; the house has long gone, and Kent County Council opened the land as a country park in 1976. The trails run through Downs Wood, Great Wood and Butchers Wood, and the chalk slopes are a Site of Special Scientific Interest, cleared of scrub so that plants such as musk orchid and butterflies such as the chalkhill blue can return.

The visitor centre, café and toilets sit beside the car park, and easy access paths link them to the play areas. The yellow route is an easy access woodland trail, mostly flat with some surfaced slopes and views over the downs; a few sections have wooden steps and it can be muddy in winter. The red route is 2.5 miles and follows the North Downs Way for part of its length. Away from the café and play area the woods are quieter, and the edge of the downs is a good place to stop and look out.