Walks you can reach from Alton by train
Hampshire · South East England
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Alton.
Bentley to Farnham (Hampshire)
6 minutes direct from Alton.
Highly recommended: Ancient forests, heathland ridges, Scots pine, heather, large ponds with swimming, remote commons and quiet woodland paths and lanes.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
The Devil's Jumps
Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: the Bel & The Dragon (3h15 in)
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Reverse direction: Blackwater Valley Nature Walks.
Farnham to Blackwater (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Alton.
Highly recommended: Deer park, heathland, MOD training area, Iron Age hillfort, reservoirs, stream valleys, woodland, nature reserve, wet meadows, lakeside sandy shores and common.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: the Foresters (2h15 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Crown and Cushion
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Farnham to Godalming (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Alton.
Highly recommended: River valley, forest tracks, sandy bridleways, open parkland, country houses and wooded valleys.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Mother Ludlam's Cave: Sandstone cave associated with local folklore (1h30 in).
Godalming: attractive market town (5h45 in).
Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h15 in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Cyder House Inn, the Rose and Crown, the Richmond Arms, the Fox & Finch, or the Star
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Guildford to Farnham (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Alton.
Hilly North Downs walk over sandy heathland commons with ferns, ponds and hilltop panoramas.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Watts Gallery & Chapel: Arts and Crafts gallery and memorial chapel dedicated to Victorian artist G.F. Watts.
St John the Baptist Church: Historic parish church.
Puttenham Common: Heathland common with ponds and ferns.
Crooksbury Hill: Pine-clad hilltop with panoramic views toward the South Downs.
Mother Ludlam's Cave: Sandstone cave associated with local folklore.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep inclines in places. Can be muddy.
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Ash Circular via Ash Ranges (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Alton.
Lowland heathland, conifer and broad-leaved woodland, stony paths, boggy sections, canal towpath, gorse and bracken and with many short sharp climbs and wide views.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: MOD range closures apply.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Brookwood Circular via Brookwood Cemetery (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Alton.
Wild, open heathland plus the Grade I listed Brookwood Cemetery and Ash Ranges MOD heathland.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Brookwood Cemetery: A vast Grade I listed Victorian cemetery with an eclectic mix of religious sections.
Ash Ranges: Wide-open MOD-owned heathland with occasional public access and far-reaching views.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Ash Ranges access varies; do not enter if red flags are flying.
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Ash to Brookwood (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Alton.
Lowland heathland, firing range ridgeline, open grassland, conifer and broad-leaved woods, farmland fields and historic cemetery grounds.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Army range closures apply.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Ash to Worplesdon (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Alton.
Basingstoke Canal towpath, hilly MOD heathland (Ash Ranges), pine-covered heath, farmland tracks, mixed woodland, open common and mature woodland on Whitmoor Common.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
West Byfleet to Hampton Court (Surrey)
45 minutes direct from Alton.
Flat canal towpath, riverside Thames Path, tarmaced and paved surfaces, waterside scenery, locks, islands and houseboats.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Farnborough to Woking (Hampshire)
45 minutes direct from Alton.
Largely flat Basingstoke Canal towpath, summer water lilies and wildflowers, linking Farnborough, Brookwood and Woking; varying lengths.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: Station coffee shops at Farnborough and Brookwood, a café in Brookwood, the Rose and Thistle pub at Frimley Green, and many options in Woking.
Warnings: Lords-and-ladies plants along the route are poisonous.
Walk details: Blackwater Valley Nature Walks (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Longcross to Woking (Surrey)
45 minutes direct from Alton.
Heathland, Horsell Common and a Peace Garden; Chobham Common, Rhododendron Walkway, Basingstoke Canal into Woking.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Chobham Common: The largest National Nature Reserve in the South East, a fine example of lowland heath.
Horsell Common: Sandy common made famous as the Martian landing site in H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Longcross has no facilities and trains roughly twice an hour; buy single tickets as the stations are on different lines.
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Horsley to West Byfleet (Surrey)
45 minutes direct from Alton.
Woods, fields, open sandy heathland, commons, canal towpath and suburban road.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).