Best walks near Reading by train
Berkshire · South East England | Walks by foot
Stations: Reading · Reading West
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in South East England and plan your next day of green.
Hanborough Station Circular via Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire)
30m direct from Reading.
13km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
Beginner-friendly: A gigantic well-signposted park. It’s completely fine to deviate from the route — explore as you like! Plenty of options for lunch — no need to reserve a table.
An essential walk! It's an easy walk from the station to the beautiful, vast (and free) grounds of the finest example of English baroque architecture. For a somewhat extortionate fee you can also visit the house, but you'd probably want a whole day for that.
Highlights: Blenheim Palace and Woodstock.
Lunch stops in Woodstock (1h30–2h30 in): the Crown, the Back Lane Tavern, or the Star Inn.
End-of-walk reward: the George and Dragon.
Guildford Station Circular via Watt’s Chapel (Surrey)
45m direct from Reading.
13km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
Beginner-friendly: No coast or river to follow, but pretty straightforward long lines nonetheless, and Watt’s Chapel provides a lovely reward for reaching the midpoint of the circuit. The lunch stop is a simple café in the vicinity of Watt’s Chapel, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
A rambler favourite!
Highlights: Watts Chapel, Watts Gallery, St Catherine's Chapel Ruins, and Guildford.
Lunch stop: Watts Gallery café (1h30–2h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Withies Inn, Ye Olde Ship Inn, the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot.
Pangbourne Station to Goring & Streatley Station (Berkshire)
8m direct from Reading.
Easy: 8km, gentle ascents. 2h30–4h.
Beginner-friendly: Just keep the River Thames on your left and follow it up to Goring.
Lunch: A walk so short that you don’t need lunch — just eat at one of the many options in Goring & Streatley.
End-of-walk rewards: the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club, Pierreponts, the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel.
Buying train tickets: Buy a return ticket to Goring & Streatley (it’s fine to disembark at Pangbourne, because Pangbourne is en route to Goring & Streatley) (that’s assuming you’re coming from the east or south (aka London/Reading) — if you’re coming from the north or west you need to buy return ticket to Pangbourne instead).
Henley-on-Thames Station to Marlow Station (Oxfordshire)
30m from Reading, with one change.
16km. Flat terrain. 3h30–5h30.
Beginner-friendly: Cross the river, make sure it’s on your left, and keep walking all the way to Marlow! You can't go wrong.
Very popular and busy. Be warned that the river bank is prone to flooding, making sections of the route impassible — if that happens there will be many other ramblers who you can follow for the alternative route.
Lunch: There’s nowhere to eat en route so either pack a lunch or eat in Marlow at the end — there are many cafés, pubs and restaurants there.
End-of-walk rewards: the Bull Inn, the Old Brewery, the Prince of Wales, or the Marlow Donkey.
Buying train tickets: Henley and Marlow are on different train lines, so unfortunately you can't buy a return ticket. Instead buy an Anytime Day Single to get to Henley-on-Thames and another Anytime Day Single to depart from Marlow.
Henley-on-Thames Station Circular via Hambleden (Oxfordshire)
30m from Reading, with one change.
18km. Moderate ascents. 5h–8h30.
A rambler favourite! Thames towpath, open riverside meadows, quaint brick-and-flint hamlet, ancient woodland, wooded hillside terraces, parkland estate, and Georgian market town. Can be muddy.
Lunch stop: the Stag and Huntsman (2h–3h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Bull on Bell Street, or the Old Bell.
Farnham Station to Godalming Station (Surrey)
45m from Reading, with one change.
Tough: 22km. Moderate ascents. 6h–10h.
A rambler favourite! River valley, forest tracks, sandy bridleways, open parkland, country houses, and wooded valleys. Can be muddy.
Lunch stop: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h30–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Cyder House Inn, the Rose and Crown, the Richmond Arms, the Fox & Finch, or the Star.
Milford Station to Haslemere Station (Surrey)
1h from Reading, with one change.
17km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–8h.
A rambler favourite! Remote heathland, pretty lakes, sandy bridleways, ancient woodland, heather and gorse commons, and a dramatic natural amphitheatre. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Devil's Punch Bowl.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
End-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse.
Pangbourne Station Circular via Cold Harbour (Berkshire)
8m direct from Reading.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents. 3h–5h.
River Thames valley, wooded hillsides, chalk nature reserve, open fields, quiet lanes, and pretty villages. Can be muddy.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
End-of-walk rewards: the Greyhound, the Ferry Boat, or the Swan.
Oxford Station Circular via Port Meadow (Oxfordshire)
30m direct from Reading.
15km. Flat terrain. 4h–6h30.
Flat riverside towpaths, water meadows, canal towpath, Oxford city streets, college lanes, and historic squares. Can be flooded.
Highlights: Pitt Rivers Museum and Oxford.
Lunch stops in Wolvercote (1h–2h in): the Trout Inn, Godstow, or the Jacob's Inn. Other lunch stops: the Perch (30m–1h in), or the Anchor (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Lamb & Flag, Oxford, the Red Lion, the Turf Tavern, the Bear, the Crown, the Royal Blenheim, the Castle Pub, or the Jolly Farmers.
Sunningdale Station to Windsor and Eton Riverside Station (Surrey)
30m direct from Reading.
14km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h30.
Parkland, lake shores, ornamental gardens, light woodland, deer park, tree-lined avenue, and historic town streets.
Highlights: Windsor Great Park, Windsor Castle, and Windsor.
Lunch stop: Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe (1h30–3h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Prince Harry, the Carpenters Arms, the Royal Windsor, or the Boatman.
Gomshall Station to Guildford Station (Surrey)
45m direct from Reading.
16km. Gentle ascents. 4h–7h.
Fields, wooded valley, pine woods, heathland common, stud farms, and canal and riverside path into a historic town. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Shere and Guildford.
Lunch stops in Shere (30m–1h in): the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), Hillys Tea Shop, or the William Bray. Other lunch stop: the William IV (1h–1h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot.
Shiplake Station to Henley-on-Thames Station (Oxfordshire)
15m from Reading, with one change.
18km. Moderate ascents. 5h–8h30.
Riverside Thames path, bluebell and beech woods, open agricultural fields, gentle hills, golf course, historic village, and market town riverfront. Can flood after rain.
Lunch stop: the Plough (1h–1h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Bull on Bell Street, the Old Bell, the Saracen's Head, or the Bird in Hand.