Walks in Surrey by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in Surrey and plan your next day of green.
Guildford Circular via Compton
30 minutes direct from Waterloo.
Beginner-friendly: No coast or river to follow, but pretty straightforward long lines nonetheless, and Watt’s Chapel provides a lovely reward for reaching the midpoint of the circuit. The lunch stop is a simple café in the vicinity of Watt’s Chapel, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
Watts Chapel: Beautiful Arts and Crafts creation of Mary Watts (1h45 in).
Watts Gallery (1h45 in)
St Catherine's Chapel Ruins (30m in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Watts Gallery café (1h45 in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Withies Inn, Ye Olde Ship Inn, the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: Walking Post (inc. GPX).
Gomshall Circular via Shere
1 hour from Waterloo, with one change.
Highly recommended
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Abinger Roughs and Netley Park (National Trust)
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls (30m in).
Shere (45m in)
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
7 lunch spots: Shere (30m in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), Hillys Tea Shop, the William Bray, or the White Horse; plus the Drummond Arms (1h in), Mandira's Kitchen at Silent Pool (1h15 in), or Carb Up and Go (1h45 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Compasses Inn, or the Gomshall Mill
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Milford to Haslemere
45 minutes from Waterloo, with one change.
Highly recommended: Remote heathland, pretty lakes, sandy bridleways, ancient woodland, heather and gorse commons and a dramatic natural amphitheatre.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
The Sailor's Stone (National Trust; 3h15 in)
Devil's Punch Bowl (National Trust)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
1 end-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Woldingham to Oxted
30 minutes direct from London Bridge.
Highly recommended: A very beautiful and varied walk through woodland ridges, open chalk downland, picturesque villages. Crosses the M25 but not significantly marred by the noise. Mostly secluded.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Godstone (2h in)
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
4 lunch spots: Godstone (2h15 in) — the Hare & Hounds (not great; not bad), the Old Forge Deli, the White Hart, or the Bell
1 end-of-walk reward: the Oxted Inn
Warnings: Chalk paths can be slippery.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Farnham to Godalming
45 minutes direct from Waterloo.
Highly recommended: River valley, forest tracks, sandy bridleways, open parkland, country houses and wooded valleys.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Mother Ludlam's Cave: Sandstone cave associated with local folklore (1h30 in).
Godalming: attractive market town (5h45 in).
Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h15 in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Cyder House Inn, the Rose and Crown, the Richmond Arms, the Fox & Finch, or the Star
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Dorking to Box Hill & Westhumble
45 minutes direct from Waterloo.
Highly recommended: Vineyard, wooded hills, chalk downland, open grassland. Very beautiful. Magnificent views at Box Hill. Begins fairly quiet, but anticipate a constant Londoner horde near Box Hill itself.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Salomons Memorial Viewpoint (3h45 in)
Box Hill Café & Visitor Centre (National Trust; 3h45 in)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: Mickleham (2h15 in) — the King William IV (excellent; reservations recommended), or the Running Horses
2 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café & Visitor Centre, or the Stepping Stones
Warnings: Relatively busy. Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Farnham to Blackwater
45 minutes from Paddington, 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.
East Croydon to Oxted
15 minutes direct from London Bridge.
First stage of the Vanguard Way, from suburban East Croydon out through Selsdon Wood and the North Downs to Oxted.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Hurst Green to Sevenoaks
30 minutes direct from London Bridge.
Greensand ridge, chart hills, undulating woodland, commons, deer park, historic estates and suburban old town.
Toy's Hill (National Trust)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Steep climbs.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Earlswood to Oxted
30 minutes direct from London Bridge.
Gentle greensand ridge, pasture, arable fields, woodland, bluebell woods, escarpment views and low-lying meadows.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Leatherhead to Dorking
45 minutes direct from Waterloo.
River Mole through the Mole Gap in the North Downs, the grounds of Thorncroft Manor, Norbury Park woodland and the Denbies Wine Estate (England's largest vineyard).
Norbury Park: A country estate of woodland and downland between Leatherhead and Dorking.
Denbies Wine Estate: England's largest vineyard, spread across the chalk slopes near Dorking.
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: Running Horse, Leatherhead.
Walk details: Surrey Hills National Landscape (turn-by-turn directions).
Sunningdale to Windsor
45 minutes direct from Waterloo.
Parkland, lake shores, ornamental gardens, light woodland, deer park, tree-lined avenue and historic town streets.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Windsor Great Park (3h30 in)
Windsor (3h30 in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe (1h45 in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Prince Harry, the Carpenters Arms, the Royal Windsor, or the Boatman
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.