Walks near Crawley by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Crawley and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Crawley.
Fishbourne Circular via Chichester Harbour (Sussex)
1 hour direct from Crawley.
Beginner-friendly: Just follow the coast and come back along a straight walk. It’s almost too simple! Flat, short and plenty of choices for lunch. Chichester Harbour is a little-known National Landscape. Its protected saltmarsh landscape feeds an abundance of birdlife. It’s a major recreational harbour but somehow has a romantically melancholy and isolated air — you can imagine sea shanties being composed here.
Coastal: three fifths along the coast.
Time: 3h–6h
4 lunch spots: Bosham (1h30–3h in) — the Anchor Bleu, Timberley's, the Berkeley Arms, or Marwick's
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Bull's Head Pub, or the Woolpack Inn
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Guildford Circular via Compton (Surrey)
1 hour from Crawley, 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: A spectacular Arts and Crafts memorial chapel decorated by Mary Watts.
Time: 3h30–7h
1 lunch spot: Watts Gallery café (1h30–3h 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).
Amberley to Arundel (Sussex)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Beginner-friendly: A beautiful, varied walk with a number of sights along the way and the experience of seeing Arundel Castle gradually emerge on the horizon. Arundel itself is a romantic little town that’s worth exploring and appreciating if you have the time. Visiting the castle and its grounds would require a day in itself. Simply follow the river and cross over when you get to Arundel. You can’t go wrong! There’s only one place to have lunch en route (the George) and it can be busy on weekends, so reserve a table to avoid a wait — book for 2.5 hours after your arrival at Amberley to allow for a leisurely pace with time to dilly-dally and appreciate sights on the way. Book for 3 hours after your arrival for a slow pace or extra contingency! (or just pack lunch).
Waterway: nine tenths along the River Arun.
Time: 3h30–7h
1 lunch spot: the George (1h30–3h30 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Eagle
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Balcombe Circular via Nymans (Sussex)
15 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Fields, woods, stream valleys, grassy hillsides, estate parkland, a fine old village and stately home. Mostly secluded.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 4h30–8h30
3 lunch spots: Handcross (2h–3h30 in) — Nymans café, the Red Lion, or JO.CO cafe
1 end-of-walk reward: the Victory
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Gomshall Circular via Shere (Surrey)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Extensive woodland.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls.
Time: 3h–6h
7 lunch spots: Shere (1h–1h30 in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), the William Bray, Hillys Tea Shop, or the White Horse; plus the Drummond Arms (1h–2h in), Mandira's Kitchen at Silent Pool (1h–2h30 in), or Carb Up and Go (1h30–3h30 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).
Penshurst Circular via Chiddingstone (Kent)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Stately home.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 3h30–7h
4 lunch spots: Chiddingstone (1h–1h30 in) — the Tulip Tree, or the Castle Inn; Penshurst (2h–4h in) — the Leicester Arms Pub, or Penshurst Place café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Little Brown Jug
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea (Sussex)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Open chalk ridge, South Downs escarpment, wide well-marked paths, exposed hilltops, riverside estuary path and suburban road walking near finish.
Hilly: half on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 8h–15h30
1 lunch spot: Columba's Kitchen (4h–8h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Buckingham Arms, or the Crabtree
Warnings: Very exposed in wind.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Dorking to Box Hill & Westhumble (Surrey)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Vineyard, wooded hills, chalk downland, open grassland, Mole valley views and North Downs.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 4h–8h30
3 lunch spots: Mickleham (2h30–4h30 in) — the Running Horses, or the King William IV; plus Wild About Coffee at Norbury Park (1h30–3h in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: Box Hill Café, or the Stepping Stones
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Lewes to Southease (Sussex)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Escarpments, three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Trevor Arms (1h30–3h30 in), or the Ram Inn, Firle (2h30–5h in)
1 end-of-walk reward: Courtyard Café at YHA Southease Hostel
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Woldingham to Oxted (Surrey)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: North Downs woodland ridge, open chalk downland, M25 crossing, village green, Greensand Way farmland, small settlements and ancient churchyards.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–7h30
4 lunch spots: Godstone (2h–4h in) — the Hare & Hounds, 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.
Lewes Circular via Southease (Sussex)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Highly recommended: Three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.
Warnings: Three steep climbs.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Box Hill & Westhumble Circular via Mickleham (Surrey)
45 minutes from Crawley, with one change.
Recommended: Hills and woodland.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Woodland: half under tree cover.
Time: 2h30–5h
2 lunch spots: Mickleham (30m–1h30 in) — the Running Horses, or the King William IV
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).