Walks near Guildford by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Guildford and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Guildford.
Gomshall Circular via Shere (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Guildford.
Highly recommended: Extensive woodland.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls.
Time: 3h–6h
7 lunch spots: Shere (1h–1h30 in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), the William Bray, Hillys Tea Shop, or the White Horse; plus the Drummond Arms (1h–2h in), Mandira's Kitchen at Silent Pool (1h–2h30 in), or Carb Up and Go (1h30–3h30 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).
Balcombe Circular via Nymans (Sussex)
1 hour from Guildford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Fields, woods, stream valleys, grassy hillsides, estate parkland, a fine old village and stately home. Mostly secluded.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 4h30–8h30
3 lunch spots: Handcross (2h–3h30 in) — Nymans café, the Red Lion, or JO.CO cafe
1 end-of-walk reward: the Victory
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Penshurst Circular via Chiddingstone (Kent)
1 hour from Guildford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Stately home.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 3h30–7h
4 lunch spots: Chiddingstone (1h–1h30 in) — the Tulip Tree, or the Castle Inn; Penshurst (2h–4h 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).
Milford to Haslemere (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Guildford.
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.
Time: 4h30–9h30
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)
30 minutes direct from Guildford.
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: 5h30–11h
1 lunch spot: the Foresters (2h30–4h30 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)
30 minutes direct from Guildford.
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.
Time: 6h–12h
1 lunch spot: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h30–4h30 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).
Bentley to Farnham (Hampshire)
30 minutes from Guildford, 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: 6h30–13h30
1 lunch spot: the Bel & The Dragon (3h30–6h30 in)
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Reverse direction: Blackwater Valley Nature Walks.
Dorking to Box Hill & Westhumble (Surrey)
45 minutes from Guildford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Vineyard, wooded hills, chalk downland, open grassland, Mole valley views and North Downs.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 4h–8h30
3 lunch spots: Mickleham (2h30–4h30 in) — the Running Horses, or the King William IV; plus Wild About Coffee at Norbury Park (1h30–3h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café, or the Stepping Stones
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Mortimer to Bramley (Berkshire)
1 hour from Guildford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Little known but quietly wonderful. Beautiful rather than spectacular, in a humble English village pathways sort of manner. Mostly secluded.
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.
St Mary the Virgin Church: on the site of a Roman temple.
Time: 3h30–6h30
1 lunch spot: the Calleva Arms (1h30–3h30 in; excellent)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Bramley Inn
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: Reading to Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership.
Henley-on-Thames to Pangbourne (Oxfordshire)
1 hour from Guildford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Thames riverside, ancient streets, broad valleys, beech woods, fields, small villages, alpaca farm and toll bridge.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Time: 5h–10h30
1 lunch spot: the Red Lion (1h30–3h30 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Greyhound
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Pangbourne to Goring & Streatley (Berkshire)
1 hour from Guildford, with one change.
Highly recommended: Woods, hilly, river and quaint village.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 3h30–7h
3 lunch spots: Streatley (2h–4h in) — Pierreponts, or the Swan at Streatley and the Coppa Club; plus the Bull (2h–4h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Miller of Mansfield, or the Catherine Wheel
Warnings: Relatively busy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Box Hill & Westhumble Circular via Mickleham (Surrey)
30 minutes from Guildford, with one change.
Recommended: Hills and woodland.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 2h30–5h
2 lunch spots: Mickleham (30m–1h30 in) — the Running Horses, or the King William IV
3 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café, Ryka's Café, or the Stepping Stones
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).