Walks near Surbiton by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Surbiton and plan your next day of green.
Guildford Circular via Compton (Surrey)
30 minutes from Surbiton, with one change.
Beginner-friendly: No coast or river to follow, but pretty straightforward long lines nonetheless, and Watt’s Chapel provides a lovely reward for reaching the midpoint of the circuit. The lunch stop is a simple café in the vicinity of Watt’s Chapel, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
Watts Chapel: Beautiful Arts and Crafts creation of Mary Watts (1h45 in).
Watts Gallery (1h45 in)
St Catherine's Chapel Ruins (30m in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Watts Gallery café (1h45 in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Withies Inn, Ye Olde Ship Inn, the Britannia, the White House, or the George Abbot
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: Walking Post (inc. GPX).
Windsor Circular via Windsor Great Park (Berkshire)
1 hour from Surbiton, with one change.
Beginner-friendly: A gigantic well-signposted park. It’s completely fine to deviate from the suggested route — explore as you like! The lunch stop is a simple café, so no messing around with booking a table in advance.
Windsor Castle (15m in)
Windsor (4h30 in)
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
3 lunch spots: Windsor Great Park (2h30 in) — the King And Castle, or Savill Garden Visitor Centre Cafe; plus Water Lilies at Windsor Great Park (2h45 in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Two Brewers Pub, the Prince Harry, or the Royal Windsor
Source: Trains2Green.
Gomshall Circular via Shere (Surrey)
1 hour from Surbiton, with one change.
Highly recommended
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Abinger Roughs and Netley Park (National Trust)
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls (30m in).
Shere (45m in)
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
7 lunch spots: Shere (30m in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), Hillys Tea Shop, the William Bray, or the White Horse; plus the Drummond Arms (1h in), Mandira's Kitchen at Silent Pool (1h15 in), or Carb Up and Go (1h45 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Compasses Inn, or the Gomshall Mill
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Farnham to Blackwater (Surrey)
45 minutes direct from Surbiton.
Highly recommended: Deer park, heathland, MOD training area, Iron Age hillfort, reservoirs, stream valleys, woodland, nature reserve, wet meadows, lakeside sandy shores and common.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: the Foresters (2h15 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Crown and Cushion
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Farnham to Godalming (Surrey)
45 minutes direct from Surbiton.
Highly recommended: River valley, forest tracks, sandy bridleways, open parkland, country houses and wooded valleys.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Mother Ludlam's Cave: Sandstone cave associated with local folklore (1h30 in).
Godalming: attractive market town (5h45 in).
Time: 7h30 (6h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the Barley Mow, Tilford Green (2h15 in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Cyder House Inn, the Rose and Crown, the Richmond Arms, the Fox & Finch, or the Star
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Bentley to Farnham (Hampshire)
45 minutes direct from Surbiton.
Highly recommended: Ancient forests, heathland ridges, Scots pine, heather, large ponds with swimming, remote commons and quiet woodland paths and lanes.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
The Devil's Jumps
Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: the Bel & The Dragon (3h15 in)
Warnings: MOD closures apply.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Reverse direction: Blackwater Valley Nature Walks.
Woldingham to Oxted (Surrey)
45 minutes from Surbiton, with one change.
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)
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
4 lunch spots: Godstone (2h15 in) — the Hare & Hounds (not great; not bad), 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.
Dorking to Box Hill & Westhumble (Surrey)
45 minutes from Surbiton, with one change.
Highly recommended: Vineyard, wooded hills, chalk downland, open grassland. Very beautiful. Magnificent views at Box Hill. Begins fairly quiet, but anticipate a constant Londoner horde near Box Hill itself.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Salomons Memorial Viewpoint (3h45 in)
Box Hill Café & Visitor Centre (National Trust; 3h45 in)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: Mickleham (2h15 in) — the King William IV (excellent; reservations recommended), or the Running Horses
2 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café & Visitor Centre, or the Stepping Stones
Warnings: Relatively busy. Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Milford to Haslemere (Surrey)
45 minutes from Surbiton, with one change.
Highly recommended: Remote heathland, pretty lakes, sandy bridleways, ancient woodland, heather and gorse commons and a dramatic natural amphitheatre.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
The Sailor's Stone (National Trust; 3h15 in)
Devil's Punch Bowl (National Trust)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Lunch: Nowhere to eat en route — pack lunch!
1 end-of-walk reward: the Harper's Steakhouse
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Box Hill & Westhumble Circular via Mickleham (Surrey)
45 minutes from Surbiton, with one change.
Recommended: Hills and woodland.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Box Hill Café (National Trust; 1h45 in)
Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: Mickleham (45m in) — the King William IV (excellent; reservations recommended), or the Running Horses
3 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café, Ryka's Café, or the Stepping Stones
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Alton Circular via Windmill Hill (Hampshire)
1 hour direct from Surbiton.
An 11-mile ramble over the six hills ringing Alton, with farmland, woodland near Monk Wood, the River Wey and the Hangers Way, gateway to the South Downs.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Includes a subway crossing under the A31 and field-edge paths that may be muddy.
Walk details: Wey Valley Community Rail Partnership (PDF).
Dorking Circular via Brockham (Surrey)
45 minutes from Surbiton, with one change.
Restored landscaped gardens, rhododendron woods, surfaced parkland paths, open fields with Downs views, wooded valley trails, village green and town centre.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).