Hackhurst and White Downs

A 185.1-hectare SSSI featuring diverse chalk grassland habitats, rare flora, and butterfly species, offering stunning views of the Weald.

Hackhurst and White Downs form a breathtaking expanse of chalk grassland, ancient woodland, and scenic ridgelines along the North Downs Way near Dorking. As part of the Surrey Hills AONB and managed in part by the Surrey Wildlife Trust, this SSSI reserve is a biodiversity hotspot, rich in butterflies, wildflowers, and wide-reaching views. FeatherFrame features Hackhurst and White Downs as one of the premier locations for chalkland wildlife photography, environmental storytelling, and open-habitat compositions.

Ridgeline Views, Chalk Flora, and Butterfly Encounters

This reserve offers photographers a full range of opportunities: meadow carpets filled with orchids and rock-roses, chalk cliffs that drop into wildflower-filled valleys, and over 40 species of butterfly—including chalkhill blues and marbled whites. Early morning light brings life to the slopes, while wooded fringes provide texture, shelter, and bird activity. FeatherFrame photographers love using this reserve to hone wide-angle habitat shots, document insect behavior, and capture sweeping aerial-style compositions of the Downs.

Best Times to Visit:

  • Spring: Bursting wildflowers, emerging butterflies, and morning mist on the ridges

  • Summer: Peak butterfly activity, orchid blooms, and golden-hour valleys

  • Autumn: Rich grass textures, warm slope lighting, and seed head macros

  • Winter: Crisp skyline silhouettes, flocks of birds, and frosted contours

Plan Your Visit

  • Parking available at White Downs car park (RH5 6SL) or via Ranmore Common

  • Steep chalk paths in places—boots with grip recommended

  • Best gear: macro for insects, wide-angle for landscapes, telephoto for birds on slope or sky

  • FeatherFrame tip: on warm summer mornings, walk the southern slopes slowly—chalkhill blues often perch low on sun-warmed stems, creating perfect macro subjects with dreamy backgrounds

Did you know?

Hackhurst and White Downs are part of a globally rare habitat—chalk downland. Once widespread, over 80% of this ecosystem has disappeared in the UK. These slopes support specialist butterflies, orchids, and fungi that thrive only in low-nutrient soils with careful grazing. FeatherFrame includes this site to spotlight not only its stunning views, but its fragile, flourishing ecological story.