Best walks near Gravesend by train
Kent · South East England | Walks by foot
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.
Harpenden Station to St Albans City Station (Hertfordshire)
45m from Gravesend, with one change.
17km. Gentle ascents. 4h30–7h30.
Mostly fields and country lanes. Some beautiful new bluebell woods, stunning historic city streeets, commons, golf courses, and parkland. Best in April (bluebell season). Some sections are busy.
Highlights: Heartwood Forest, St Albans Cathedral, and St Albans itself.
Lunch stops in Sandridge (2h–3h in): the Green Man (excellent; reservations recommended), Heartwood Tea Rooms (busy!), the Rose & Crown, or the Queens Head (not great).
End-of-walk rewards: the Lower Red Lion, the Mad Squirrel Tap, the Peahen, the Snug, or the Boot.
Garston Station to St Albans City Station (Hertfordshire)
45m from Gravesend, with one change.
13km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h.
Common woodland, farmland tracks, river meadows, water meadows, quiet residential roads, and historic city streets. Can be very muddy.
Highlights: St Albans.
Lunch stops: Moor Mill Watermill & Inn (1h30–3h in), the Overdraught (2h30–4h in), or Rumbles Fish Bar (2h30–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Horn, or the Robin Hood.
St Albans City Station Circular via Ruins of Gorhambury House (Hertfordshire)
45m from Gravesend, with one change.
15km. Moderate ascents. 4h–7h.
Highlights: St Albans Cathedral, Verulamium Roman City Walls, Ruins of Gorhambury House, and St Albans itself.
Lunch stop: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (30m–1h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Six Bells, the Lower Red Lion, the Snug, the Boot, the Mad Squirrel Tap, or the Peahen.
Harpenden Station Circular via the Devil's Dyke (Hertfordshire)
1h from Gravesend, with one change.
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.
Folkestone Central Station Circular via Castle Hill (Kent)
45m from Gravesend, with one change.
Tough: steep ascents. 16km. 5h–8h.
A rambler favourite! Verdant coastal cliffs, rolling hills, and suburban streets. 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.
Highlights: Folkestone.
Lunch stops in Capel-le-Ferne (3h–4h30 in): Cliff Top Café, the Royal Oak, or the Cliff Top Café.
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.
Stratford Station to Stratford International Station (Essex)
15m direct from Gravesend.
Easy: 0km, moderate ascents. 30m.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Peckham [Rye Station](/train-stations/south-east-england/surrey/peckham-rye) to Denmark Hill Station (Surrey)
1h direct from Gravesend.
Easy: 1km, moderate ascents. 30m.
Hill paths and with gentle gradients.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Kings Cross Station to Farringdon Station (Middlesex)
30m from Gravesend, with one change.
Easy: 6km, gentle ascents. 1h30.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Kentish Town Station to Gospel Oak Station (Middlesex)
30m from Gravesend, with one change.
Easy: 1km, moderate ascents. 30m.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Kentish Town West Station to Kentish Town Station (Middlesex)
30m from Gravesend, with one change.
Easy: 0km, moderate ascents. 30m.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Finsbury Park Station to Harringay Green Lanes Station (Middlesex)
30m from Gravesend, with one change.
Easy: 1km, moderate ascents. 30m.
Field and woodland paths.
Documented by Railwalks — download GPX route
Drayton Park Station to Finsbury Park Station (Middlesex)
30m from Gravesend, with one change.
Easy: 1km, moderate ascents. 30m.