Walks near Farnham by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Farnham and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Farnham.
Guildford Circular via Compton (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Farnham.
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 (Surrey)
45 minutes from Farnham, 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 (Surrey)
45 minutes from Farnham, 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.
Dorking to Box Hill & Westhumble (Surrey)
45 minutes from Farnham, with one change.
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.
Wanborough to Godalming (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Farnham.
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.
Milford to Godalming (Surrey)
45 minutes from Farnham, with one change.
Linear countryside walk on bridleways and country lanes through woodland and an arboretum, finishing along the Wey Navigation towpath.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Hydon's Ball and Heath: Memorial to Octavia Hill overlooking the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (National Trust; 1h15 in).
Winkworth Arboretum: National Trust arboretum with over 1,000 species of trees and shrubs, noted for autumn colour (National Trust; 1h45 in; 2h to visit).
Busbridge Lakes: Ornamental lake gardens with rare waterfowl.
Hydon's Ball: Hilltop viewpoint with an Octavia Hill memorial and views toward the South Downs.
Wey and Godalming Navigations: Historic navigable waterway opened in 1653, now owned by the National Trust.
Phillips Memorial Park and Cloister: Riverside park with a cloister commemorating Titanic radio operator Jack Phillips.
Godalming: attractive market town.
4 lunch spots: Godalming — the Rose and Crown, or the Star; plus Winkworth Arboretum café (1h45 in), or Winkworth Arboretum Tea Room (National Trust café serving hot drinks, sandwiches and snacks, with mostly outdoor seating)
Warnings: A new housing estate at Tuesley has been built over the footpath with no signage; walkers can cross the estate to reach the road. Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Walking Post (inc. GPX).
Gomshall to Guildford (Surrey)
45 minutes from Farnham, with one change.
Fields, wooded valley, pine woods, heathland common, stud farms and canal and riverside path into a historic town.
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).
Shere (30 mins in)
4 lunch spots: Shere (30 mins in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), Hillys Tea Shop, or the William Bray; plus the William IV (1h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club, Surrey Hills National Landscape and Blackwater Valley Nature Walks.
Liphook to Haslemere (Hampshire)
45 minutes from Farnham, with one change.
Mixed oak, beech and chestnut woods, bridleways, streams, open countryside, horse paddocks and a final climb into a market town.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
2 lunch spots: Fernhurst (2h30 in) — the Red Lion Pub, or the Fern Café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Godalming Circular via Winkworth Arboretum (Surrey)
30 minutes from Farnham, with one change.
Winkworth Arboretum: National Trust arboretum with over 1,000 species of trees and shrubs, noted for autumn colour (National Trust; 1h45 in; 2h to visit).
1 lunch spot: Winkworth Arboretum café (1h45 in)
Source: Trains2Green.
Oxshott Circular via Claremont Landscape Garden (Surrey)
1 hour from Farnham, 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.
Alton Circular via Windmill Hill (Hampshire)
15 minutes direct from Farnham.
An 11-mile ramble over the six hills ringing Alton, with farmland, woodland near Monk Wood, the River Wey and the Hangers Way, gateway to the South Downs.
Warnings: Includes a subway crossing under the A31 and field-edge paths that may be muddy.
Walk details: Wey Valley Community Rail Partnership (PDF).
Dorking Circular via Brockham (Surrey)
45 minutes from Farnham, with one change.
Restored landscaped gardens, rhododendron woods, surfaced parkland paths, open fields with Downs views, wooded valley trails, village green and town centre.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).