Walks near Basingstoke by train

A day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Basingstoke and plan your next day of green.

Alternatively, view walks directly from Basingstoke.

Guildford Circular via Compton (Surrey)

30 minutes from Basingstoke, with one change.

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.

Watts Chapel: Beautiful Arts and Crafts creation of Mary Watts (1h45 in).

Watts Gallery (1h45 in)

St Catherine's Chapel Ruins (30 mins in)

1 lunch spot: Watts Gallery café (1h45 in)

5 end-of-walk rewards: the Withies Inn, Ye Olde Ship Inn, the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: Walking Post (inc. GPX).

GPX

Moderate

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Hanborough Circular via Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire)

1 hour from Basingstoke, with one change.

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. 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.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Blenheim Palace (1h in)

Woodstock (1h30 in)

3 lunch spots: Woodstock (1h30 in) — the Crown, the Back Lane Tavern, or the Star Inn

1 end-of-walk reward: the George and Dragon

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

GPX

Moderate

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Salisbury Circular via Stonehenge (Wiltshire)

30 minutes direct from Basingstoke.

Highly recommended

Old Sarum Ruins (1h in)

Stonehenge (4h30 in)

Stonehenge Landscape: A World Heritage Site famous for its ancient ceremonial landscape of great archaeological interest, set in over 800 hectares of chalk grassland (National Trust; 4h30 in).

1 lunch spot: the Bridge Inn (2h30 in; excellent)

Warnings: Have lunch a café or pub next to the river. Return from Stonehenge to Salisbury by bus (very frequent & reliable but check times).

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

GPX

Moderate

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Mortimer to Bramley (Berkshire)

15 minutes direct from Basingstoke.

Highly recommended: Little known but quietly wonderful. Beautiful rather than spectacular, in a humble village pathways sort of manner. Mostly secluded.

Ruins of Calleva Atrebatum: once a thriving Romano-British city that survived into the Saxon period. Now ghostly ruins. Includes an evocative full circuit of city walls, and what's left of a 7,000-capacity gladiatorial arena (1h15 in).

St Mary the Virgin Church: charming medieval church on the site of a Roman temple (2h15 in).

1 lunch spot: the Calleva Arms (1h45 in; excellent)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Bramley Inn

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

GPX

Gentle

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Milford to Haslemere (Surrey)

45 minutes from Basingstoke, with one change.

Highly recommended: Remote heathland, pretty lakes, sandy bridleways, ancient woodland, heather and gorse commons and a dramatic natural amphitheatre.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

The Sailor's Stone (National Trust; 3h15 in)

Devil's Punch Bowl (National Trust)

Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!

1 end-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

GPX

Moderate

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Farnham to Blackwater (Surrey)

45 minutes from Basingstoke, with one change.

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.

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.

GPX

Moderate

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Farnham to Godalming (Surrey)

45 minutes from Basingstoke, with one change.

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).

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).

GPX

Moderate

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Bentley to Farnham (Hampshire)

1 hour from Basingstoke, with one change.

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

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.

GPX

Moderate

Plan a walk