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 (30 mins in)
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: Hidden woods with ancient trees and flower-sprinkled grasslands, just off the North Downs and Pilgrims Ways (National Trust).
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls (30 mins in).
Shere (45 mins in)
7 lunch spots: Shere (30 mins 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)
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)
4 lunch spots: Godstone (2h15 in) — the Hare & Hounds (not great), 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).
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)
3 lunch spots: Mickleham (2h15 in) — the King William IV (excellent; reservations recommended), or the Running Horses; plus Box Hill Café & Visitor Centre (3h45 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: 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.
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.
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)
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.
Wanborough to Godalming
45 minutes from Waterloo, with one change.
Open fields, holloways, mixed woodland, old churches, riverside path along the River Wey, and historic market town. Quiet and isolated.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Watts Chapel: Beautiful Arts and Crafts creation of Mary Watts (1h30 in).
Godalming: attractive market town (3h15 in).
2 lunch spots: the Tea Shop (1h15 in), or the Withies Inn (1h45 in)
4 end-of-walk rewards: the Star, Godalming Delights (great ice cream), the Fox & Finch, or the Richmond Arms
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Hurst Green to Penshurst
30 minutes direct from London Bridge.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Limpsfield Common: Ancient common on the Greensand Ridge where time comes home to sleep (National Trust; 1h in).
Chartwell House: Family home and garden of Sir Winston Churchill (National Trust; 2h in; 3h to visit).
Toys Hill: Discover the place that inspired Octavia Hill to found the National Trust (National Trust; 3h in).
Bore Place (3h30 in)
5 lunch spots: Westerham (2h in) — Chartwell House café, or Landemare café; plus the Carpenters Arms (45 mins in), the Fox & Hounds (3h in), or the Cock Inn (3h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Greyhound, or the Little Brown Jug
Source: Trains2Green.
Oxshott Circular via Claremont Landscape Garden
30 minutes from Waterloo, with one change.
Claremont Landscape Garden: This grade 1 listed garden created by the great landscape designers of the 18th century charts the evolution of the English Landscape Garden (National Trust; 1h15 in; 2h to visit).
1 lunch spot: Claremont Landscape Garden café (1h15 in)
Source: Trains2Green.
Hurst Green to Dunton Green
30 minutes from London Bridge, with one change.
Quebec House: Childhood home of General James Wolfe, victor of the Battle of Quebec (1759) (National Trust; 2h in; 1h to visit).
4 lunch spots: Westerham (2h in) — the Grasshopper On The Green, or Food For Thought; plus the Comodor (2h in), or Churchill's Art Cafe (2h in)
Source: Trains2Green.