Walks you can reach from Petts Wood by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Petts Wood.
Chelsfield Circular via Down House (Kent)
8 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
Recommended
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Down House: home of Charles Darwin.
Time: 4h30–9h
4 lunch spots: Downe (3h–6h in) — Down House café, the George and Dragon, or Rajdoot of Downe; plus the Blacksmith's Arms (2h–4h in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Rose and Crown, the Royal Oak, the Queens Head, or the Chelsfield
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Knockholt to Otford (Kent)
15 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
Wooded hills, steep ridges, hidden downland valley, bluebell woods, beech and sweet chestnut woodland and fields.
Warnings: Descents can be slippery.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Knockholt Circular via Downe (Kent)
15 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
Rural fields with wildflowers, bluebell woods and several village churches.
Time: 5h30
Warnings: Numerous stiles throughout.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Hayes to Knockholt (Kent)
15 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
Fields, woods, valleys, heathland, commons and London Green Belt countryside.
Warnings: Can be waterlogged.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Caterham to Knockholt (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
North Downs escarpment, woods carpeted with wild garlic and bluebells, open pasture, arable fields, fine southward views and some M25 road noise early on.
Warnings: Can be slippery.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Orpington to Sevenoaks (Kent)
4 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
A commuter-belt rural walk over the North Downs through woodland, chalky fields and rolling downland, with a fair amount of up-and-down and a long road-walking section. Mixed underfoot with gates, kissing gates, stiles, earth steps, tree roots and rutted paths and moderately steep for short stretches. Knockholt station is about 1 km off route, allowing the walk to be split.
Time: 4h30–8h30
Lunch: Pubs on the route at Pratts Bottom and Knockholt Pound, with a shop and a garden centre cafe at Knockholt Pound.
End-of-walk reward: A pub on the route at Riverhead, near the end.
Warnings: Several busy road crossings where traffic moves fast, though most have crossings or a central island. A stretch of road walking begins with no verges and high hedges on a tight bend. Pay attention to flying golf balls when crossing Chelsfield Lakes Golf Course. The footpath at Fairtrough Farm has been diverted and the OS maps are out of date.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Orpington to Swanley (Kent)
4 minutes direct from Petts Wood.
A pleasant walk starting and ending with quiet residential streets in Orpington and Swanley, with the peaceful middle section across fields and woods with wild flowers, on tracks that are walking-boot territory in wet weather. Several stiles to cross. Wide views over Kent/London countryside and with Canary Wharf visible in the distance on a clear day. Part of the route follows the Bromley Chelsfield walk and the Windmill Hill Wood Walk.
Time: 2h30–4h30
Lunch: There is a pub and a post office just off route in Crockenhill, and a Tesco and other shops in Orpington at the start.
Walk details: Slow Ways.