Best walks near St Albans by train
Hertfordshire · South East England | Walks by foot
Stations: St Albans Abbey · St Albans City
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.
Tring Station Circular via Ashridge Estate (Hertfordshire)
45m from St Albans Abbey, with one change.
13km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
Beginner-friendly: It’s nearly all in a big National Trust estate that’s extremely well sign-posted. It’s completely fine to deviate from the route — explore and shorten as you like! The lunch options are simple cafés, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
An essential walk! The Ashridge Estate is very beautiful if you appreciate woodland, and covers more then enough ground to cover a day of hiking in itself. There are paths everywhere and you can wander freely. Ancient trees, rolling chalk downlands, and lush meadows. Relatively busy. Take the minor paths to avoid the crowds. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Ashridge Estate and Ashridge House.
Lunch stops: the Ashridge Estate Café (1h–1h30 in), or Ashridge House café (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk reward: the Valiant Trooper.
Tring Station to Wendover Station (Hertfordshire)
45m from St Albans Abbey, with one change.
Tough: 22km. Moderate ascents. 6h–10h.
Flat canal towpath, reservoir banks, open arable fields, wooded Chilterns hills, and steep descents. Steep chalky descent.
Lunch stop: the Partridge (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk reward: Wendover Woods Café.
Kettering Station Circular via Pytchley (Northamptonshire)
1h from St Albans City, with one change.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–8h30.
Villages and countryside.
Lunch stops in Broughton (3h30–6h in): Best Plaice, the Red Lion, Broughton Fish and Chips, or the Broughton & Cransley WMC. Other lunch stop: the Overstone Arms (1h30–2h in).
Adapted from a route by the Leicester Ramblers — download GPX route
Tring Station Circular via Ivinghoe Beacon (Hertfordshire)
45m from St Albans Abbey, with one change.
Tough: steep ascents. 15km. 4h–7h.
Ridgeway escarpment, gravel track through beechwoods, and optional bluebell woodland diversion. Very exposed and windy.
Highlights: Ashridge Estate.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat except close to the end of the walk.
End-of-walk rewards: the Ashridge Estate Café, the Greyhound Inn, or Church Farm Café.
Harpenden Station Circular via the Devil's Dyke (Hertfordshire)
5m direct from St Albans City.
15km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–5h30.
Highlights: St Albans.
Lunch stops: the Swan (1h–2h in), the Bull (1h–2h in), or the Wicked Lady (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Marquis of Granby, or the Amble Inn.
West Hampstead Thameslink Station to Brondesbury Station (Middlesex)
15m direct from St Albans City.
Easy: 0km, flat terrain. 30m.
Hill paths and with gentle gradients.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Finchley Road & Frognal Station to West Hampstead Thameslink Station (Middlesex)
15m direct from St Albans City.
Easy: 0km, flat terrain. 30m.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Kings Cross Station to Farringdon Station (Middlesex)
30m direct from St Albans City.
Easy: 6km, gentle ascents. 1h30.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Cannon Street Station to City Thameslink Station (Middlesex)
30m direct from St Albans City.
Easy: 1km, gentle ascents. 30m.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Blackfriars Station to Charing Cross Station (Middlesex)
30m direct from St Albans City.
Easy: 1km, gentle ascents. 30m.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
London Bridge Station to South Bermondsey Station (Surrey)
45m direct from St Albans City.
Easy: 3km, flat terrain. 1h.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Kentish Town Station to Gospel Oak Station (Middlesex)
30m from St Albans City, with one change.
Easy: 1km, moderate ascents. 30m.