Walks you can reach from Horley by train

Gentle greensand ridge, pasture, arable fields, woodland, bluebell woods, escarpment views and low-lying meadows.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

North Downs ridge, wooded escarpment, open hilltops, undulating ridge paths, rural farmland, parkland and golf course.

Warnings: Hilly, multiple ascents.

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

Gently undulating High Weald woodland of Worth Forest, past an abbey monastery and managed forest park; bluebells and fungi in season.

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Nature reserves, wetland lakes, restored sand quarries, Greensand Ridge, farm fields, wooded commons, suburban streets and pedestrianised town centre.

Time: 5h

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

Chalk grassland, rolling farmland and woodland through Shabden Park Farm, with sweeping views of the North Downs.

Shabden Park: A farm and parkland on the North Downs noted for wildflowers and butterflies.

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

Happy Valley chalk grassland known for rare orchids and butterflies, woodland trails and part of the London LOOP.

Happy Valley: Scenic dry chalk valley rich in wildflowers and butterflies.

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

North Downs ridge, parkland, open heathland, wooded paths and direct racecourse crossing.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 4h30–8h30

Warnings: Race days restrict access.

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

Chalk grassland and downland through the South London Downs National Nature Reserve, with wildflowers, rare orchids and sweeping views toward London and Surrey.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Riddlesdown Common: Open chalk downland common managed by the City of London Corporation.

Riddlesdown Quarry: Disused 17th-century chalk quarry, now a wildlife haven.

Kenley Airfield: Former RAF station and key Battle of Britain fighter base, now a scheduled monument.

Kenley Common: Open common bordering the former airfield.

Coulsdon Common: Chalk grassland common.

Happy Valley: Scenic dry chalk valley rich in wildflowers and butterflies.

Devilsden Wood: Ancient woodland on the side of Happy Valley.

Farthing Downs: Open chalk downland with views over the North Downs.

Time: 3h–6h30

2 lunch spots: the Wattenden Arms, or the Fox

Warnings: Steep stepped descent to Whyteleafe and a sharp incline up to Kenley Airfield; railway footbridge at Stumps Lane is tucked behind a garage off the A22.

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

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Recommended: Lovely walk through the various landscapes of the High Weald; really nice walk, varied in environment and rich in nature. A really nice, varied walk through the landscapes of the High Weald, crossing the Sussex Ouse Valley and skirting Ardingly Reservoir, through the bluebell woods of Cowdray and Tilgate Forests. Starts on main roads out of Crawley, then woodland, open farmland and some lane walking; the walking gets quite steep in places and with a holloway whose banks steepen. Easy to follow and quite direct. Crosses the Sussex Ouse Valley and the High Weald. Balcombe, roughly midway, has a high street with shops and a pub.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Time: 5h–9h30

Lunch: Balcombe, roughly midway, offers a high street of shops and a pub.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Spectacular unimpeded views from the North Downs scarp; a superb view from a bench near the top. A surprisingly rural and varied route with grassy tree-lined rides, woodland paths, grazing pastures, a churchyard, a park, arable fields and chalk-grassland nature reserves, plus six lakes near Redhill. One very long, very steep hill (up to 35%); kissing gates, high stiles and rutted/rooty tracks. Only about 3.5km is on roads and mostly very quiet lanes. Passes the Park Ham and Quarry Hanger nature reserves with rare chalk wildflowers and grazing animals, plus several lakes around Nutfield Marsh. There is no mid-route public transport, though some buses stop at Mill Lane and Doctors Lane in an emergency.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Lunch: A food truck near Mercers Lake watersports centre (about 300m off-route) sells hot drinks and snacks. Shops at either end.

Warnings: One very long, very steep hill. A 275m stretch on Pendell Lane has little verge, bends and a humpback bridge that mess with sightlines; walk with care. Possible cows, goats or bullocks in the nature reserves and the fields just north of the M25 underpass, where a stile can also get very muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A varied walk on footpaths and wide bridle paths and with a fine section crossing the wooded St Leonard's Forest. Generally well-traced and easy to follow. Can be shortened by catching the train from Ifield station.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

St Leonard's Forest: An expansive forest of ancient woodland between Horsham and Crawley.

Time: 4h–7h30

1 lunch spot: the Dragon

Warnings: Short sections into and out of Colgate village follow a narrow verge along a road that is busy at times.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h30

1 lunch spot: the Harrow Pub (2h–4h in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Home Cottage

Warnings: Pleasant but apparent that you haven't left London.

Source: Trains2Green.