Best walks near Oxford by train
Oxfordshire · 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.
Hanborough Station Circular via Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire)
8m direct from Oxford.
13km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
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.
An essential walk! 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.
Highlights: Blenheim Palace and Woodstock.
Lunch stops in Woodstock (1h30–2h30 in): the Crown, the Back Lane Tavern, or the Star Inn.
End-of-walk reward: the George and Dragon.
Pangbourne Station to Goring & Streatley Station (Berkshire)
30m from Oxford, with one change.
Easy: 8km, gentle ascents. 2h30–4h.
Beginner-friendly: Just keep the River Thames on your left and follow it up to Goring.
Lunch: A walk so short that you don’t need lunch — just eat at one of the many options in Goring & Streatley.
End-of-walk rewards: the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club, Pierreponts, the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel.
Buying train tickets: Buy a return ticket to Goring & Streatley (it’s fine to disembark at Pangbourne, because Pangbourne is en route to Goring & Streatley) (that’s assuming you’re coming from the east or south (aka London/Reading) — if you’re coming from the north or west you need to buy return ticket to Pangbourne instead).
Beaconsfield Station Circular via Chalfont St Giles (Buckinghamshire)
45m direct from Oxford.
19km. Moderate ascents. 5h–8h30.
Gently rolling wooded hills, open fields, Buckinghamshire countryside, parkland, and golf course. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Chalfont Saint Giles.
Lunch stops in Chalfont Saint Giles (2h30–4h in): the White Hart, or the Feathers.
Pangbourne Station Circular via Cold Harbour (Berkshire)
30m from Oxford, with one change.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents. 3h–5h.
River Thames valley, wooded hillsides, chalk nature reserve, open fields, quiet lanes, and pretty villages. Can be muddy.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
End-of-walk rewards: the Greyhound, the Ferry Boat, or the Swan.
Sunningdale Station to Windsor and Eton Riverside Station (Surrey)
1h from Oxford, with one change.
14km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h30.
Parkland, lake shores, ornamental gardens, light woodland, deer park, tree-lined avenue, and historic town streets.
Highlights: Windsor Great Park, Windsor Castle, and Windsor.
Lunch stop: Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe (1h30–3h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Prince Harry, the Carpenters Arms, the Royal Windsor, or the Boatman.
Mortimer Station to Bramley Station (Berkshire)
45m from Oxford, with one change.
Easy: 12km, gentle ascents. 3h30–5h30.
An essential walk! Little known but quietly wonderful. Beautiful rather than spectacular, in a humble English village pathways sort of manner. Mostly secluded.
Highlights: 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) and St Mary the Virgin Church (on the site of a Roman temple).
Lunch stop: the Calleva Arms (1h30–3h in; excellent).
End-of-walk reward: the Bramley Inn.
Goring & Streatley Station to Pangbourne Station (Oxfordshire)
30m from Oxford, with one change.
Tough: steep ascents. 12km. 3h30–6h.
A rambler favourite! Woods, hilly, river, and quaint village. Relatively busy.
Lunch stops in Streatley (2h–3h in): Pierreponts, or the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club. Other lunch stop: the Bull (2h–3h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel.
Princes Risborough Station Circular via Ninn Wood (Buckinghamshire)
45m direct from Oxford.
15km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–7h30.
Lunch stop: the Black Horse (1h30–2h30 in).
End-of-walk rewards: Wheat Field, or the Bird in Hand.
Honeybourne Station to Stratford-upon-Avon Station (Gloucestershire)
45m direct from Oxford.
15km.
Beautiful line through the northern Cotswolds. Trackbed of old railway line, fields, roads through villages, and flat greenway. Route follows the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway from 1859, closed for passenger services in 1968-1969, finally closed in 1976. Now a greenway. First section still in use for goods traffic; moderately busy road between Pebworth and Long Marston.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Coventry Station to Berkswell Station (Warwickshire)
45m direct from Oxford.
10km.
Picturesque village. Urban, suburban, and then rural. Walk traverses Coventry's historic common land including Hearsall Common and Tilehill Wood, medieval survivals preserved in the 1920s, before reaching Berkswell in the Meridian Gap. Muddy sections possible.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Station to Pershore Station (Gloucestershire)
1h direct from Oxford.
19km.
Dramatic outlying northwestern limb of the Cotswolds. Walk crosses from Gloucestershire into Worcestershire at Carrant Brook. Dangerously busy lane with tight bends near Aston-on-Carrant.
Documented by Walk Midlands — download GPX route
Henley-in-Arden Station to Warwick Station (Warwickshire)
45m from Oxford, with one change.
17km.
Impressively deep cutting (canal near Hatton). Warwickshire countryside and Grand Union Canal towpath; gently wooded. Medieval market town of Henley-in-Arden founded 13th century; Warwick is Warwickshire's county town. Route traverses remnants of Forest of Arden with ancient hedgerows from 16th century. Path can be churned up and muddy; M40 motorway traffic; traffic on country lanes.