Walks you can reach from Stratford by train
Stations: Stratford · Stratford International
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Folkestone Central to Dover Priory (Kent)
45 minutes direct from Stratford International.
Highly recommended: Coastal cliffs, chalk downland, sea defences, wild landslip area, wartime installations, ridge between valley and sea and town crossing.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Coastal: four fifths along the coast.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–8h30
1 lunch spot: Camping Café (1h–2h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Malvern, or the Priory Hotel
Warnings: Cracked sea defences.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Dover Priory to Deal (Kent)
1 hour direct from Stratford International.
Highly recommended: Clifftop chalk paths, two significant climbs, level pebble beach coastpath, open sea views and historic town.
Coastal: almost all along the coast.
Dover Castle: A vast medieval fortress overlooking the port and the Channel to France.
Time: 5h30–11h
3 lunch spots: Saint Margarets Bay (3h–6h in) — the Pines Tea Room, or the bay kiosk; plus Walmer Castle and Gardens (3h–6h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Port Arms, the Sir Norman Wisdom, or the Queen Street Tap
Warnings: Mobile may switch networks.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club, Walking Post (inc. GPX) and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Sandling to Folkestone Central (Kent)
45 minutes direct from Stratford International.
Highly recommended: Chalky escarpment ridge, steep climbs, open downland with Channel views, cliff top promenade, shingle beach and historic harbour.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 5h30–10h30
1 lunch spot: the Gatekeeper Inn (1h30–3h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: Valiant Sailor, the Lord Morris, or the Park Inn
Warnings: Steep climbs near start.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Folkestone Central Circular via Castle Hill (Kent)
45 minutes direct from Stratford International.
Highly recommended: Verdant coastal cliffs, rolling hills and suburban streets.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Coastal: three fifths along the coast.
Time: 5h–9h30
2 lunch spots: Capel-le-Ferne (3h–5h30 in) — Cliff Top Café, or the Royal Oak
7 end-of-walk rewards: the Royal George, the Harbour Inn, the Kipps' Alehouse, the Samuel Peto, the Pullman, the East Kent Arms, or the Lord Morris
Warnings: Begins, necessarily, with a lengthy suburban segment, but then becomes very beautiful and surprisingly quiet. Particularly lovely on the walk along the cliffs east of Folkestone, where there are also a number of lunch spot choices. The narrow overgrown paths are best. But note that there is a LOT of steep ascents and descents on this walk.
Source: Trains2Green.
Cheshunt Circular via Royal Gunpowder Mills (Hertfordshire)
30 minutes direct from Stratford.
Flat river floodplain, gravel-pit lakes, water meadows, country park sculptures, farmland and a market town.
Time: 3h30
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Broxbourne Circular via Waltham Abbey (Hertfordshire)
30 minutes direct from Stratford.
Flat river floodplain, towpaths, water meadows, lakeside paths, woodland strips, farmland fields and open parkland.
Time: 4h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Ealing Broadway Circular via Osterley Park (Middlesex)
30 minutes direct from Stratford.
Urban green spaces, canal towpath, river Thames towpath, parks, gardens and suburban streets.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Laindon Circular via Langdon Hills (Essex)
30 minutes direct from Stratford.
Hilly Essex countryside, ancient and modern woods, flower-rich meadows, farmland, panoramic Thames Estuary views and conservation village.
Time: 5h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Rayleigh Circular via Rayleigh Mount (Essex)
30 minutes direct from Stratford.
A heritage trail from the station around the historic town of Rayleigh, whose origins predate Saxon times — its name means 'a clearing of deer', it appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, and by 1222 its forests were royal hunting grounds. Takes in Rayleigh Mount and the parish church.
Walk details: Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Benfleet Circular via Leigh-on-Sea (Essex)
45 minutes direct from Stratford.
Hilly woodland, narrow grassy paths, open estuary waterscape, wide flat creek-side track and gentrifying seaside town.
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Rochford Circular via Rochford (Essex)
45 minutes direct from Stratford.
A circular across countryside and along part of the sea wall, returning along the banks of the River Roach to the attractive historic market town of Rochford.
Rochford
Time: 4h
Lunch: Passes a convenient pub for refreshment.
Walk details: Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership (local insights).
Kelvedon Circular via Grange Barn (Essex)
45 minutes direct from Stratford.
Gentle valley, river stretches, country lanes, green lanes, field boundaries, rolling Essex countryside, fields and woods.
Time: 5h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).