Walks you can reach from Catford by train
Stations: Catford · Catford Bridge
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Eynsford Circular via Otford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
Highly recommended: Secluded valleys, chalk downland ridges, ancient woodland, golf course, chalk grassland nature reserves, riverside paths and farmland.
Shoreham (45m in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h30 in) — the Samuel Palmer (Plenty of seating, including outdoors; excellent), the Honey Pot, or the Kings Arms
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Castle Hotel, the Five Bells, or the Malt Shovel
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Swanley to Sevenoaks (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
Linear Darent valley sides on the North Downs Way and Darent Valley Path: three nature reserves including Lullingstone Country Park and Polhill Bank, panoramic Kent Downs views.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Swanley to Eynsford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
Linear walk into the Darent Valley countryside, with breathtaking views, Lullingstone Roman Villa, the Eynsford Viaduct and the village's humpback bridge and ford.
Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Farningham Road to Eynsford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
Linear middle Darent Valley Path beside the tranquil River Darent, Lullingstone Roman Villa, Eynsford Castle and valley views.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Otford to Eynsford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
River valley, open fields, orchards, beech woods, golf course, ridge path and historic villages.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Reverse direction: Kent Downs National Landscape.
Hayes Circular via Hayes Common (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford Bridge.
Three commons, coppiced woodland, open heathland, gorse, ponds, riverside paths and suburban road crossings.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Busy road crossings.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Swanley Circular via Castle Farm (lavender) (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
Darent Valley circular with panoramic views, the UK's largest lavender farm at Castle Farm (June/July), 500-year-old veteran trees at Lullingstone Country Park, a Roman villa and a castle.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Shoreham Circular via Otford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
Darent Valley circular around the riverside villages of Shoreham and Otford, with panoramic valley views, Polhill Bank Nature Reserve and a section of the Darent Valley Path.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Hayes to Knockholt (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford Bridge.
Fields, woods, valleys, heathland, commons and London Green Belt countryside.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be waterlogged.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Whyteleafe to Hayes (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Catford Bridge.
Gently rolling countryside, shady footpaths and bridleways, open valleys, woods, chalk downland and quiet rural hamlets near the London/Surrey border.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Swanley to Longfield (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
A route avoiding awkward and impassable field sections, climbing a little hill and crossing fields and quiet lanes, with newly planted crop fields (on public rights of way), railway-side stretches, woodland with many paths and residential and light-industrial streets towards the end. Some fields not prepped for walkers; muddy after wet weather. Crosses under the M25 at Button Street. Passes a distinctive tower in South Darenth and bluebells in season.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Crossing Fawkham Road; the section through Ram's Wood is confusing with many feet-and-wheel paths. Some crop fields where the right of way is unmaintained, so going around is faster.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Swanley to Dartford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Catford.
A largely flat, over-70%-off-road walk on field paths along a broad ridge and beside the River Darent on the Darenth Valley Way, through Central Park and the Brooklands Lakes. Some narrow roads, multiple stiles and concrete steps. Underfoot is asphalt and gravel and dirt. Uses the marked Darenth Valley Way. The noise of the A2 and M25 is pervasive around Hawley. Central Park in Dartford has public toilets; possible bus service in Hawley.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: Near Hawley there is a garden centre cafe, an eat-in bakery and The Chequers pub in Darenth a short way off route.
Warnings: Cross the A225 / Hawley Road straight away heading north, as it soon becomes an uncrossable dual carriageway. Shirehall Road through Hawley is very patchily pavemented. Multiple stiles, some rickety, and a paddock with an electric fence.
Walk details: Slow Ways.