Walks you can reach from Merstham by train

First stage of the Vanguard Way, from suburban East Croydon out through Selsdon Wood and the North Downs to Oxted.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 5h30–11h

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

Mainly level riverside path, sandstone Greensand Way, picturesque Surrey villages and parkland grounds.

Time: 3h30

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, 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).

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).

Chalk grassland, woodland and open ridges with panoramic views from Colley Hill across the Surrey Hills.

Colley Hill: A chalk-down summit above Reigate offering panoramic views over the Weald.

Walk details: Surrey Hills National Landscape (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).

A walk through London's history around the square mile, past the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and the Guildhall.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: Two thirds urban. Several sets of steps, cobbled streets and narrow alleys.

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

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.

Gently undulating Low Weald countryside, ancient semi-natural woodland, village green, river crossing and Greensand ridge with views of North Downs and South Downs.

Time: 4h

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

North Downs walk from Tadworth over Banstead Heath and Colley Hill to Reigate, with heathland, sandstone caves and wide Surrey views.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Colley Hill: A chalk-down summit above Reigate offering panoramic views over the Weald.

Reigate Heath: A lowland heath on the edge of Reigate, home to a windmill church.

Time: 3h30–7h30

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

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.

Recommended: Views of the North Downs. A direct, mostly off-road route leaving the busy A23 for residential streets and Cycleway 21, a mix of paved and unpaved (asphalt and gravel) surfaces, through Whitebushes and a rural section with bluebells, green fields and views of the North Downs and before a final pavement stretch on the 40mph Orchard Drive into Horley. A non-public footpath into Horley can be overgrown. Follows Cycleway 21; passes 'Asylum Arch Road' and East Surrey Hospital. Local shops at Whitebushes roughly two-thirds of the way.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Lunch: A handy shop at Whitebushes about two-thirds along; multiple shop, pub and eatery options at both ends.

Warnings: Orchard Drive into Horley is a 40mph road, though it has a pavement. A non-public footpath at the Horley end was very overgrown and only just passable.

Walk details: Slow Ways.