Walks you can reach from Effingham Junction by train

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: A spectacular Arts and Crafts memorial chapel decorated by Mary Watts.

Watts Gallery

St Catherine's Chapel Ruins

Guildford

Time: 3h30–7h

1 lunch spot: Watts Gallery café (1h30–3h 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).

Pine forest, North Downs views and bluebell woods, past Old Simm's Copse, Ranmore Common and the Denbies Wine Estate.

Hilly: half on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: three fifths under tree cover.

Old Simm's Copse: A tucked-away North Downs woodland renowned for its spring bluebell display.

Denbies Wine Estate: England's largest vineyard, spread across the chalk slopes near Dorking.

Time: 4h–8h30

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Bluebell woods, pine forest and North Downs views, past Old Simm's Copse, West Horsley Place and Effingham Forest.

Woodland: two thirds under tree cover.

Old Simm's Copse: A tucked-away North Downs woodland renowned for its spring bluebell display.

West Horsley Place: A historic country house and cultural venue used as Button House in the BBC comedy Ghosts.

Time: 3h–6h

Warnings: Best in April to early May; steep descent to Abinger Roughs.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

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.

Lunch: Running Horse, Leatherhead.

Walk details: Surrey Hills National Landscape (turn-by-turn directions).

Surrey churches and North Downs views, past Guildford Castle, St Martha's Church and Albury village.

Woodland: three fifths under tree cover.

Guildford Castle: A Norman castle whose surviving keep and grounds sit above Guildford's cobbled High Street.

St Martha's Church: A Grade II-listed hilltop church atop St Martha's Hill with sweeping views over the Surrey Hills.

Guildford

Time: 4h–8h

Warnings: Steep ascent out of Guildford; steep descent to Albury.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Sandy ridges, downland escarpments, wooded sections, open downland, quiet valley and Surrey Hills AONB.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 3h–5h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Hilly North Downs walk over sandy heathland commons with ferns, ponds and hilltop panoramas.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Watts Gallery & Chapel: Arts and Crafts gallery and memorial chapel dedicated to Victorian artist G.F. Watts.

St John the Baptist Church: Historic parish church.

Puttenham Common: Heathland common with ponds and ferns.

Crooksbury Hill: Pine-clad hilltop with panoramic views toward the South Downs.

Mother Ludlam's Cave: Sandstone cave associated with local folklore.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Warnings: Steep inclines in places. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

North Downs ridge, escarpments, bluebell woods, downland slopes, upland country with long views, wooded stretches and estate grounds.

Warnings: Steep hill climbs.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Reverse direction: Walking Post (inc. GPX).

Steep chalk hills, open downland, yew and box woodland, grassy ridges with panoramic views, gentle river valley fields and historic parkland.

Time: 3h30

Warnings: Steep descents, can be slippery.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

A gorgeous, gentle route; The scenery is stunning. A gentle, mostly flat riverside route along the towpath of the River Wey and Godalming Navigations. On rough paths in places, with a few muddy parts and a sandy and eroded section near Guildford that needs care. Part runs along an old railway line. Mostly follows the towpath of the River Wey and Godalming Navigations; part runs along the old railway line and much of the path is National Trust land. Narrow boats, locks and a pillbox along the way.

Waterway: four fifths along the River Wey.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Lunch: A pub/restaurant with a children's playground roughly half way; note some venues have reported closures.

Warnings: The towpath at Guildford between the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and the rowing club has been closed since 2019 due to a collapsed footbridge, with an unsigned diversion via the A281 and Shalford Road; the diversion includes steep steps and a narrow gate. The approach to Guildford station is traffic-heavy with awkward crossings. A sandy, eroded section near Guildford needs care.

Walk details: Blackwater Valley Nature Walks (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Wey Valley Community Rail Partnership (PDF).

Historic Lovelace bridges and towers; nine flint bridges, Horsley Towers, the Lovelace Mausoleum, beautiful woodland.

Woodland: three fifths under tree cover.

Lovelace Bridges: Nine surviving flint-and-brick bridges built across a wooded Surrey estate in the 1860s.

Horsley Towers: A Gothic Victorian mansion built in 1820, former home of the Earl of Lovelace.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Warnings: Dorking Arch spans a busy road with no pavement; take care.

Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).

Urban streets, open common, wooded paths, golf fairways, parkland and quiet roads.

Time: 2h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).