Best walks to or from Crawley

Crawley Station to Haywards Heath Station

lovely walk through the various landscapes of the High Weald; really nice walk, varied in environment and rich in nature. A really nice, varied walk through the landscapes of the High Weald, crossing the Sussex Ouse Valley and skirting Ardingly Reservoir, through the bluebell woods of Cowdray and Tilgate Forests. Starts on main roads out of Crawley, then woodland, open farmland and some lane walking; the walking gets quite steep in places and with a holloway whose banks steepen. Easy to follow and quite direct. Crosses the Sussex Ouse Valley and the High Weald. Balcombe, roughly midway, has a high street with shops and a pub.

Tough: steep ascents. 18km.

Lunch: Balcombe, roughly midway, offers a high street of shops and a pub.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Crawley Station to East Grinstead Station

stunning scenery. A mostly flat, moderate walk with stunning scenery and on a mix of paths that can be muddy after wet weather. Tweaks the original route at Worth to use a ramped path access rather than a flight of steps.

13km.

Can be muddy.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Horsham Station to Crawley Station

A varied walk on footpaths and wide bridle paths and with a fine section crossing the wooded St Leonard's Forest. Generally well-traced and easy to follow. Can be shortened by catching the train from Ifield station.

14km. Moderate ascents.

Short sections into and out of Colgate village follow a narrow verge along a road that is busy at times.

Lunch stop: the Dragon.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Crawley Station to Horley Station

A largely urban route through residential areas at both ends, with a central section through Crawley's Manor Royal industrial area and past Gatwick Airport South Terminal and the highlight being a surfaced greenway (Cycleway 21) with a stream running beside it as planes fly in overhead. Step-only-access footbridges cross the railway.

8km.

Two step-only-access footbridges over the railway. The Manor Royal section follows the pavement next to four lanes of traffic. Navigation can be confusing after the railway bridge south of the station where one path is closed off.

Lunch: Cafes and burger vans in the Manor Royal industrial area; public toilets at Gatwick South Terminal mid-route.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route