Best walks near Guildford by train
Surrey · South East England | Walks by foot
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations in South East England and plan your next day of green.
Fishbourne Station Circular via Chichester Harbour (Sussex)
1h from Guildford, with one change.
Easy: 11km, flat terrain. 3h–5h.
Beginner-friendly: Just follow the coast and come back along a straight walk. It’s almost too simple! Flat, short and plenty of choices for lunch.
Chichester Harbour is a little-known National Landscape. Its protected saltmarsh landscape feeds an abundance of birdlife. It’s a major recreational harbour but somehow has a romantically melancholy and isolated air — you can imagine sea shanties being composed here.
Highlights: Chichester Harbour, Bosham, and Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens.
Lunch stops in Bosham (1h30–2h30 in): the Anchor Bleu, Timberley's, the Berkeley Arms, or Marwick's.
End-of-walk rewards: the Bull's Head Pub, or the Woolpack Inn.
Pangbourne Station to Goring & Streatley Station (Berkshire)
1h from Guildford, with one change.
Easy: 8km, gentle ascents. 2h30–4h.
Beginner-friendly: Just keep the River Thames on your left and follow it up to Goring.
Lunch: A walk so short that you don’t need lunch — just eat at one of the many options in Goring & Streatley.
End-of-walk rewards: the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club, Pierreponts, the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel.
Buying train tickets: Buy a return ticket to Goring & Streatley (it’s fine to disembark at Pangbourne, because Pangbourne is en route to Goring & Streatley) (that’s assuming you’re coming from the east or south (aka London/Reading) — if you’re coming from the north or west you need to buy return ticket to Pangbourne instead).
Farnham Station to Godalming Station (Surrey)
6m direct from Guildford.
Tough: 22km. Moderate ascents. 6h–10h.
A rambler favourite! River valley, forest tracks, sandy bridleways, open parkland, country houses, and wooded valleys. Can be muddy.
Lunch stop: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h30–4h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Cyder House Inn, the Rose and Crown, the Richmond Arms, the Fox & Finch, or the Star.
Milford Station to Haslemere Station (Surrey)
15m direct from Guildford.
17km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–8h.
A rambler favourite! Remote heathland, pretty lakes, sandy bridleways, ancient woodland, heather and gorse commons, and a dramatic natural amphitheatre. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Devil's Punch Bowl.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
End-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse.
Balcombe Station Circular via Nymans (Sussex)
1h from Guildford, with one change.
15km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–7h30.
A rambler favourite! Fields, woods, stream valleys, grassy hillsides, estate parkland, a fine old village, and stately home. Mostly secluded. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Nymans and the Ruins of Slaugham Place.
Lunch stops in Handcross (2h–3h in): Nymans café, the Red Lion, or JO.CO cafe.
End-of-walk reward: the Victory.
Wanborough Station to Godalming Station (Surrey)
6m direct from Guildford.
12km. Moderate ascents. 3h30–6h.
Open fields, North Downs ridge, vineyard, golf course, mixed woodland, riverside path along the River Wey, and historic market town. Can be muddy.
Highlights: Guildford.
Lunch stops: the Tea Shop (1h30–2h in), or the Withies Inn (2h–3h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Star, the Fox & Finch, or the Richmond Arms.
Liphook Station to Haslemere Station (Hampshire)
15m direct from Guildford.
Tough: steep ascents. 15km. 4h–7h.
Mixed oak, beech and chestnut woods, bridleways, streams, open countryside, horse paddocks, and a final climb into a market town. Can be muddy.
Lunch stops in Fernhurst (2h30–4h in): the Red Lion Pub, or the Fern Café.
End-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse.
Sunningdale Station to Windsor and Eton Riverside Station (Surrey)
45m from Guildford, with one change.
14km. Gentle ascents. 3h30–6h30.
Parkland, lake shores, ornamental gardens, light woodland, deer park, tree-lined avenue, and historic town streets.
Highlights: Windsor Great Park, Windsor Castle, and Windsor.
Lunch stop: Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe (1h30–3h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Prince Harry, the Carpenters Arms, the Royal Windsor, or the Boatman.
Pangbourne Station Circular via Cold Harbour (Berkshire)
1h from Guildford, with one change.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents. 3h–5h.
River Thames valley, wooded hillsides, chalk nature reserve, open fields, quiet lanes, and pretty villages. Can be muddy.
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
End-of-walk rewards: the Greyhound, the Ferry Boat, or the Swan.
Merstham Station to Tattenham Corner Station (Surrey)
45m from Guildford, with one change.
15km. Moderate ascents. 4h30–7h30.
Epic scenery sadly spoiled by the constant drone of the M25. North Downs ridge, parkland, open heathland, wooded paths, racecourse downland, and London panoramas. Relatively busy. Race days restrict access.
Lunch stops: Cafe Junction 8 (1h–2h in), the Sportsman (2h–3h30 in), or the Bell (3h–5h in).
End-of-walk reward: the Tattenham Corner.
Gomshall Station Circular via Shere (Surrey)
15m direct from Guildford.
Tough: steep ascents. 10km. 3h–5h.
An essential walk! Can be muddy.
Highlights: Saint James's Church (see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls) and Shere.
Lunch stops in Shere (1h–1h30 in): the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), the William Bray, Hillys Tea Shop, or the White Horse. Other lunch stops: the Drummond Arms (1h–2h in), Mandira's Kitchen (1h–2h in), or Carb Up and Go (1h30–3h in).
End-of-walk rewards: the Compasses Inn, or the Gomshall Mill.
Mortimer Station to Bramley Station (Berkshire)
1h from Guildford, with one change.
Easy: 12km, gentle ascents. 3h30–5h30.
An essential walk! Little known but quietly wonderful. Beautiful rather than spectacular, in a humble English village pathways sort of manner. Mostly secluded.
Highlights: Remnants of Calleva Atrebatum (includes ruins ofthe original walls, and a large amphitheatre where gladiatorial combats entertained up to 7,000 people at a time) and St Mary the Virgin Church (on the site of a Roman temple).
Lunch stop: the Calleva Arms (1h30–3h in; excellent).
End-of-walk reward: the Bramley Inn.