Best walks near Dorking by train
Stations: Dorking West · Dorking · Dorking Deepdene
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Dorking and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Dorking.
Guildford Circular via Compton (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Dorking West.
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).
Amberley to Arundel (Sussex)
45 minutes from Dorking, with one change.
Beginner-friendly: A beautiful, varied walk with a number of sights along the way and the experience of seeing Arundel Castle gradually emerge on the horizon. Arundel itself is a romantic little town that’s worth exploring and appreciating if you have the time. Visiting the castle and its grounds would require a day in itself. Simply follow the river and cross over when you get to Arundel. You can’t go wrong! There’s only one place to have lunch en route (the George) and it can be busy on weekends, so reserve a table to avoid a wait — book for 2.5 hours after your arrival at Amberley to allow for a leisurely pace with time to dilly-dally and appreciate sights on the way. Book for 3 hours after your arrival for a slow pace or extra contingency! (or just pack lunch).
Waterway: nine tenths along the River Arun.
Arundel Castle (3h15 in)
Arundel (3h in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the George (1h45 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Eagle
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Gomshall Circular via Shere (Surrey)
9 minutes direct from Dorking Deepdene.
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).
Penshurst Circular via Chiddingstone (Kent)
45 minutes from Dorking Deepdene, with one change.
Highly recommended: Stately home.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Chiddingstone Village (National Trust; 45m in)
Penshurst Place (2h in)
Chiddingstone (National Trust; 45m in)
Penshurst (2h in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
4 lunch spots: Chiddingstone (45m in) — the Tulip Tree, or the Castle Inn; Penshurst (2h in) — the Leicester Arms Pub, or Penshurst Place café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Little Brown Jug
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Lewes Circular via Southease (Sussex)
1 hour from Dorking Deepdene, with one change.
Highly recommended: Three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.
Monk's House – Virginia Woolf's Home (National Trust; 4h in)
Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
5 lunch spots: Glynde (1h45 in) — Glynde Stores & Post, or the Trevor Arms; plus the YHA Southease Hostel & Campsite (3h30 in), the Abergavenny Arms (4h in), or the Juggs (5h45 in)
Warnings: Three steep climbs.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Milford to Haslemere (Surrey)
45 minutes from Dorking West, 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.
Farnham to Blackwater (Surrey)
45 minutes from Dorking West, 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.
Farnham to Godalming (Surrey)
45 minutes from Dorking West, with one change.
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).
Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea (Sussex)
45 minutes from Dorking, with one change.
Highly recommended: Open chalk ridge, South Downs escarpment, wide well-marked paths, exposed hilltops, riverside estuary path and suburban road walking near finish.
Hilly: half on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 10h (8h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: Columba's Kitchen (4h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Buckingham Arms, or the Crabtree
Warnings: Very exposed in wind.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Lewes to Southease (Sussex)
1 hour from Dorking Deepdene, with one change.
Highly recommended: Escarpments, three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Lewes (15m in)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: the Trevor Arms (1h45 in), or the Ram Inn, Firle (2h30 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: Courtyard Café at YHA Southease Hostel
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Bentley to Farnham (Hampshire)
45 minutes from Dorking West, with one change.
Highly recommended: Ancient forests, heathland ridges, Scots pine, heather, large ponds with swimming, remote commons and quiet woodland paths and lanes.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
The Devil's Jumps
Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: the Bel & The Dragon (3h15 in)
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Reverse direction: Blackwater Valley Nature Walks.
Leigh to Penshurst (Kent)
45 minutes from Dorking Deepdene, with one change.
Highly recommended: Parkland, river valley, gentle farmland slopes, vineyard, woods and hamlet lanes.
Penshurst (1h in)
Chiddingstone Village (National Trust; 3h in)
Chiddingstone (National Trust; 3h in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: the Leicester Arms (1h in), or the Rock (2h in)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Source: A variant of Leigh and Penshurst (Saturday Walkers Club).