Walks near Oxford by train
Oxfordshire · South East England
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Oxford and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Oxford.
Hanborough Circular via Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire)
8 minutes direct from Oxford.
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)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
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).
Saunderton Circular via Bledlow (Buckinghamshire)
45 minutes from Oxford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Rolling Chiltern Hills, open ridge, secluded valleys, gentle gradients with one or two steep hills and fine valley views.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Lions Of Bledlow (2h in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Golden Cross
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Princes Risborough to Wendover (Buckinghamshire)
45 minutes direct from Oxford.
Highly recommended: Beech woods, chalk downlands, high ridgeline, nature reserves, escarpments with wide views and a pleasant old market town.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Chilterns Countryside (National Trust; 4h15 in)
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Swan (2h in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Shoulder of Mutton
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Mortimer to Bramley (Berkshire)
45 minutes from Oxford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Little known but quietly wonderful. Beautiful rather than spectacular, in a humble English village pathways sort of manner. Mostly secluded.
Remnants of Calleva Atrebatum: includes ruins ofthe original walls, and a large amphitheatre where gladiatorial combats entertained up to 7,000 people at a time (1h15 in).
St Mary the Virgin Church: on the site of a Roman temple (2h15 in).
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
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).
Similar walk: Reading to Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership.
Henley-on-Thames to Pangbourne (Oxfordshire)
30 minutes from Oxford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Thames riverside, ancient streets, broad valleys, beech woods, fields, small villages, alpaca farm and toll bridge.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Red Lion (1h45 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Greyhound
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Farnham to Blackwater (Surrey)
45 minutes from Oxford, 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.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
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.
Pangbourne to Goring & Streatley (Berkshire)
30 minutes from Oxford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Woods, hilly, river and quaint village.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
3 lunch spots: Streatley (2h in) — Pierreponts, or the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club; plus the Bull (2h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel
Warnings: Relatively busy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Princes Risborough Circular via Ninn Wood (Buckinghamshire)
45 minutes direct from Oxford.
Recommended
Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Black Horse (1h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Wheat Field, or the Bird in Hand
Source: Trains2Green.
Moreton-in-Marsh Circular via Longborough (Gloucestershire)
30 minutes direct from Oxford.
Gentle Cotswold hills, open fields, ridge with fine views and honey-coloured villages.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Bath Spa Circular via Dundas Aqueduct (Somerset)
1 hour direct from Oxford.
Disused railway path, tunnels, viaducts, canal towpath, river and historic city centre.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Goring & Streatley Circular via Aldworth (Oxfordshire)
30 minutes from Oxford, with one change.
Undulating downs, Thames-side views, Ridgeway path, chalk hills and quaint villages.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep descents.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Pangbourne Circular via Goring (Berkshire)
30 minutes from Oxford, with one change.
Part-wooded ridges, open pastures, wildflower nature reserve, Thames river meadows, beech woods and Thames-side 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).