Walks you can reach from South Croydon by train

Recommended

St Albans Cathedral

Verulamium Roman City Walls

Ruins of Gorhambury House

St Albans

Time: 4h–8h

1 lunch spot: Ye Olde Fighting Cocks (30m–1h 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).

Recommended: Mostly fields and country lanes. Some beautiful new bluebell woods, stunning historic city streeets, commons, golf courses and parkland.

Heartwood Forest

St Albans Cathedral

St Albans

Time: 4h30–9h

4 lunch spots: Sandridge (2h–4h 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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

Common woodland, farmland tracks, river meadows, water meadows, quiet residential roads and historic city streets.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

St Albans

Time: 3h30–7h

3 lunch spots: Moor Mill Watermill & Inn (1h30–3h30 in), the Overdraught (2h30–4h30 in), or Rumbles Fish Bar (2h30–4h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Horn, or the Robin Hood

Warnings: Can be very muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

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.

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.

The countryside views are fantastic, and the scenery is extremely varied; a marvellous view of the rest of the route all the way to St Albans. A very enjoyable and varied route with a mix of fields, woodland, lanes, tracks and urban residential estates, plus a riverside walk; mostly good path and road or pavement with some muddier track and one or two extra-muddy fields. No pavement-less B-roads and all road crossings safe except one. Marvellous mid-point view across to St Albans. Rich wildlife (skylark, woodpecker, red kites, butterflies) and varied features including an air museum, a fishery and a gravel-extraction conveyor belt. Pubs at South Mimms and Tyttenhanger, plus a picnic area and WC at the Willows Lakes fishery. Note St Albans High Street is on the far side of the station.

Time: 4h–8h30

Lunch: Pubs at South Mimms and Tyttenhanger split the route into thirds, plus picnic area and toilets at the Willows Lakes fishery.

Warnings: The crossing of the A414 is uncontrolled on a dual carriageway with fast traffic, though there is a central median so you only cross two lanes at a time; some narrow kissing gates and barriers along the route, and a fair bit of mud in winter.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A direct yet pleasant, largely off-road route following the River Ver across meadows and managed wetlands, then field edges, woodland, fields and tracks to the outskirts of Radlett, finishing on a quiet private road. The Ver meadows are boggy and may flood in winter (gaiters or waterproof boots advised); some steps and narrow paths and a small bridge. Passes the site of a Roman villa and fishing lakes at Frogmore that can encroach over the path.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: Refreshments at Park Street, with a hotel by the M25 useful for those on a long journey.

Warnings: The Ver Valley water meadows are boggy and likely to flood in winter — waterproof boots or gaiters needed. Some steps and narrow paths. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A fantastic Slow Ways route; a totally pleasant, easy to navigate, accessible, direct, and beautiful route; the complete forest bathing experience. An easy, flat route almost entirely along a disused railway line, the Alban Way, on paved and wide paths separated from traffic and shaded by trees. Accessible and suitable for all types of wheels; some find the tree-tunnel monotonous as there are no views. Follows the Alban Way disused railway almost the entire route, with displays at one of the former stations and benches to rest. Good pubs, cafes and shops at the St Albans end.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: A quarter urban.

Walk details: Slow Ways.