Walks by train

A walk in the countryside can make a great day out with no admission charge to pay or booking to be made. This page lists some suggested walks starting from railway stations featured on this website.

For further ideas I recommend this Pathfinder Guide: Home Counties from London by Train

To find your way I recommend the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer maps as these are perfect for walking. They show great detail including footpaths, roads, towns and villages.

Walks in Kent

• Cuxton - various walks on the Ranscombe Farm Reserve, ¾ mile from the station.
• Dover Priory - walks along the White Cliffs, 2¼ miles from station (part steeply uphill).
• Eynsford - 2¼ miles circular walk via Roman Villa and village, passing under the viaduct, or follow the Darent Valley path to Shoreham (3 miles) and Otford (5 miles).
• Ham Street - woodland walks just ¼ mile from the station.
• Herne Bay - 8 miles coastal walk to Reculver and back.
• Hollingbourne - walk through the village and up onto the North Downs (good views) to the Hucking Estate (2½ miles from station) for woodland and farmland walks.
• Otford - a good starting point for the North Downs Way (uphill) and easier walks along the Darent Valley to Shoreham (2 miles) and Eynsford (5 miles).
• Sandling - Brockhill Country Park is ¾ mile from the station.
• Sevenoaks - easy walks around the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (1 mile from station) and longer walks in Knole Park (1½ miles uphill through town).
• Sturry - Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve is 3½ miles from the station, continue 2 miles across the Reserve to Grove Ferry then maybe return to Sturry by bus from Upstreet (½ mile from Grove Ferry).
• Walmer - 3 miles coastal walk to Deal via Walmer and Deal Castles.

For more ideas in Kent see explorekent.org/activities

Walks in Surrey

• Bookham - Bookham Common NT is immediately north of the station.
• Box Hill & Westhumble - the summit viewpoint on the North Downs is 1¾ miles uphill from the station.
• Egham - 5 miles circular walk via the Runnymede memorials, woodland, water meadows and the Thames path.
• Holmwood - a countryside walk to Leith Hill Tower, 2¾ miles from the station.
• Virginia Water - walks around the Lake (1½ miles from station) and Valley Gardens (2 miles from station).

Walks in East and West Sussex

• Arundel - riverside walks (½ mile from station).
• Berwick - a 2 miles circular walk around Arlington Reservoir (½ mile from station).
• Glynde - walk up to Mount Caburn (1¼ miles from station) for a chalk downland Nature Reserve and panoramic views.
• Hassocks - a good starting point for the South Downs Way, 1¾ miles from station.
• Lewes - various walks around the Railway Land Nature Reserve beside the River Ouse, ½ mile from the station.
• Pulborough - riverside walk with views across wet meadows and fields.
• Rye - various walks around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve which starts ¾ mile from the station.

The Pathfinder Guide Home Counties from London by Train includes walks from Arundel, Battle, Berwick, Pevensey & Westham and Rye stations.

Walks in The Chilterns

• Chalfont & Latimer - a 4½ miles circular walk through the Chess Valley via Latimer and Chenies.
• Goring & Streatley - Hartslock Nature Reserve is a pleasant 2½ miles walk along the Thames Path.
• Seer Green - explore Hodgemoor Woods 1½ miles from the station.
• Tring - walk via picturesque Aldbury village and uphill to the Ashridge Estate woodland, 1¾ miles from the station, or head to Tring Park (1¾ miles from station), or follow the Grand Union Canal to Tring Reservoirs (2¼ miles from station).
• Wendover - head 1½ miles west up to Coombe Hill or 2 miles east up to Wendover Woods.

The Pathfinder Guide Home Counties from London by Train includes walks from Berkhamsted, Goring & Streatley and Tring stations.

Walks in Berkshire

• Cookham - an attractive village and nearby riverside walks along the Thames Path.
• Mortimer - the remains of Silchester Roman City are 2¾ miles from the station by footpaths and quiet roads.
• Thatcham - walk beside the Kennet & Avon Canal to Thatcham Reedbeds Reserve (2 miles from station), or via Greenham and Crookham Commons to Bowdown Woods (2 miles from station).
• Windsor & Eton Central/Riverside - walks along the Thames Path.
• Winnersh - Dinton Pastures Country Park is 1 mile from the station.

Walks in Hampshire

• Bentley - walk the Shipwrights Way from the station through Alice Holt Forest, the forest Visitor Centre is 1¾ miles from the station.
• Brockenhurst - Roydon Woods Nature Reserve is ¾ mile from the station and there are many walks in the surrounding New Forest.
• Hook - Hook Common and Bartley Heath Nature Reserves are only ¼ mile from the station.
• Lymington Town - the Solent Way coast path passes through Lymington and Keyhaven Nature Reserves 1¼ miles from the station.
• Netley - walks in Royal Victoria Country Park, ¾ mile from the station.
• Portchester - coastal walks from Portchester Castle, 1 mile from the station.
• Rowlands Castle - walk the Monarch's Way to Stansted Forest and Stansted Park (2 miles).
• Totton - the Lower Test Marshes Nature Reserve is only ½ mile from the station.

Walks in Hertfordshire

• Bayford - Broxbourne Wood 1¼ miles from the station.
• Cuffley - Northaw Great Wood 1¾ miles from the station.
• St Margarets - Amwell Nature Reserve ¾ mile from the station.
• Tring - walk via picturesque Aldbury village and uphill to the Ashridge Estate woodland, 1¾ miles from the station, or head to Tring Park (1¾ miles from station), or follow the Grand Union Canal to Tring Reservoirs (2¼ miles from station).
• Ware - King's Meads Nature Reserve beside the River Lea ½ mile from the station.

Walks in East Anglia (Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk)

• Darsham - walks mostly along minor roads to Dunwich and Heath (5 miles) and Minsmere RSPB (5 miles).
• Huntingdon - 8 miles circular walk via Houghton Mill.
• Manningtree - 7 miles circular walk via Flatford and Dedham.
• Pitsea - walks around Wat Tyler Country Park, 1 mile from station.
• Reedham - riverside walks.
• Sheringham - coastal walks and buses to villages along the North Norfolk Coast for further coastal walks.
• West Runton - various walks through the NT heathland and woodland with good views along the coast.
• Wrabness - various walks along the Stour Estuary and through local nature reserves.