Walks from Oxted

Highly recommended: A very beautiful and varied walk through woodland ridges, open chalk downland, picturesque villages. Crosses the M25 but not significantly marred by the noise. Mostly secluded.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Godstone (2h in)

4 lunch spots: Godstone (2h15 in) — the Hare & Hounds (not great), the Old Forge Deli, the White Hart, or the Bell

1 end-of-walk reward: the Oxted Inn

Warnings: Chalk paths can be slippery.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Quebec House: Childhood home of General James Wolfe, victor of the Battle of Quebec (1759) (National Trust; 2h30 in; 1h to visit).

4 lunch spots: Westerham (2h15 in) — Food For Thought, or Tudor Rose Tea Rooms; plus the Comodor (2h15 in), or Churchill's Art Cafe (2h15 in)

Source: Trains2Green.

Wooded Greensand Ridge, heathland common, open parkland, valleys, escarpment views to North Downs and High Weald and historic market town.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

National Trust commons and woodland, plus pretty villages straddling the Surrey-Kent border; Limpsfield, Greensand Way, North Downs views.

Woodland: three fifths under tree cover.

Limpsfield Common: Ancient common on the Greensand Ridge where time comes home to sleep (National Trust).

Warnings: Can be muddy in places after rain.

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

Surrey Hills edge walk over fields and through woodland, including seasonal bluebell woods, with panoramic views.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Limpsfield Common: Ancient common on the Greensand Ridge where time comes home to sleep (National Trust; 1h15 in).

Limpsfield Chart: Elevated wooded common on the Greensand Ridge.

Starborough Castle: Site of a former medieval moated castle.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

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).

Low-lying farmland, river valley, woodland, low ridges, golf course, ancient churchyards and old coaching village.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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

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.

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

Be prepared for a spectacular view; great views and wonderful flora; beautiful chalk downland valleys. A beautiful but demanding chalk downland route with a series of steep ups and downs across peaceful dry valleys, a steep climb to Woldingham and a long climb up the North Downs escarpment on a narrow, sometimes tricky path. The descent off Oxted Downs is steep. Kissing gates, stiles and steps and uneven paths throughout. Follows the North Downs Way; the top of Oxted Downs is National Trust managed escarpment with an information board showing landscape features as far as the South Downs. Woldingham has a railway station, allowing the route to be split. A water fountain and benches on Woldingham Green. Good refreshments at Caterham and Oxted.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

1 lunch spot: the Woldingham Village Shop

Warnings: Crossing the A22 bypass is a fast, busy highway with a central reservation, needing care and patience. Several very steep hills, steps and narrow paths; chalk can be slippery when wet. Possible cattle and horses in some fields. Leaving Caterham involves steps.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A pleasant route mostly through farmland, with quiet streets at the Oxted end. Some road walking, mainly along quiet lanes and a few field paths that are hard to follow with few signposts. The railway crossing south of Hurst Green can be avoided using paths north of the railway bridge.

Lunch: Good facilities at Edenbridge and Oxted, and a convenience store at Hurst Green.

Warnings: Pavements in Edenbridge swap sides frequently along the busy B2026. The A25 must be crossed before Oxted, though there is a central reservation and traffic lights nearby. Field paths can be hard to follow; GPS is useful.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Wooded Greensand common, heathland, farmland, Limpsfield Chart village green and gentler hillside paths.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Source: A shorter variant of Oxted Circular (Saturday Walkers Club).

North Downs escarpments, plantation paths, open downland, River Eden meadows and Limpsfield village streets.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Source: A shorter variant of Woldingham Circular via Titsey Place (Saturday Walkers Club).