Walks you can reach from Norwood Junction by train
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St Albans Circular via Ruins of Gorhambury House (Hertfordshire)
45 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Recommended
St Albans Cathedral (30m in)
Verulamium Roman City Walls (45m in)
Ruins of Gorhambury House (2h in)
St Albans (2h in)
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (30m in)
6 end-of-walk rewards: the Six Bells, the Lower Red Lion, the Snug, the Boot, the Mad Squirrel Tap, or the Peahen
Warnings: A third urban.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Harpenden to St Albans (Hertfordshire)
1 hour direct from Norwood Junction.
Recommended: Mostly fields and country lanes. Some beautiful new bluebell woods, stunning historic city streeets, commons, golf courses and parkland.
Heartwood Forest (1h30 in)
St Albans Cathedral (4h in)
St Albans (3h30 in)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
4 lunch spots: Sandridge (2h in) — the Green Man (excellent; reservations recommended), Heartwood Tea Rooms (busy!), the Rose & Crown, or the Queens Head (not great)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Lower Red Lion, the Mad Squirrel Tap, the Peahen, the Snug, or the Boot
Best months: in April (bluebell season).
Warnings: A quarter urban.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
East Croydon to Oxted (Surrey)
4 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
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: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Earlswood to Oxted (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Gentle greensand ridge, pasture, arable fields, woodland, bluebell woods, escarpment views and low-lying meadows.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Redhill Circular via Quarry Hanger Nature Reserve (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Nature reserves, wetland lakes, restored sand quarries, Greensand Ridge, farm fields, wooded commons, suburban streets and pedestrianised town centre.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Harpenden Circular via the Devil's Dyke (Hertfordshire)
1 hour direct from Norwood Junction.
Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.
St Albans (2h in)
The Devil's Dyke (National Trust)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
3 lunch spots: the Swan (1h in), the Bull (1h15 in), or the Wicked Lady (2h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Marquis of Granby, or the Amble Inn
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Crystal Palace to Forest Hill (Surrey)
4 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Suburban parks, ancient woodland, leafy avenues, Victorian gardens and urban pavements.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Streatham to East Dulwich (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
South London green-chain walk from Streatham's Rookery through Dulwich Woods, Horniman Gardens and Nunhead Cemetery to East Dulwich.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Streatham to Honor Oak Park (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Walk through surviving fragments of the ancient Great North Wood, from Streatham Common via Crystal Palace Park to One Tree Hill.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Carshalton to Kingswood (Surrey)
15 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Out of the suburbs and up the North Downs; Mayfield Lavender fields, ancient Banstead Woods, rolling commons.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Mayfield Lavender Farm: A lavender field on the North Downs near Banstead, open to walkers.
Banstead Woods: Ancient woodland and former medieval deer park near Chipstead.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Chessington to Cheam (Surrey)
30 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Flat riverside paths, open meadows, farmland, ancient parkland and wooded country park.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Watford to St Albans (Hertfordshire)
45 minutes direct from Norwood Junction.
Way-marked trail through the Ver and Colne Valleys and linking all seven Abbey Line stations — can be done end-to-end or as individual sections with a train hop back.
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Sections can become waterlogged after heavy rain, sometimes without obvious alternative routes.
Walk details: the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership (PDF).