Walks you can reach from Ford by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Amberley to Arundel (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Ford.
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.
Arundel Castle (3h15 in)
Arundel (3h in)
Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: the George (1h45 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.
Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Ford.
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: 10h (8h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
1 lunch spot: Columba's Kitchen (4h 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.
Goring-by-Sea to Worthing (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Ford.
Recommended
Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.
Highdown Gardens (30m in)
Cissbury Ring Hill Fort (National Trust; 3h45 in)
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: the Black Horse (3h in), or the Gun Inn (3h in)
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Reverse direction: Railwalks.
Arundel Circular via South Stoke Barn (Sussex)
6 minutes direct from Ford.
Low hills, river valley, water meadows, woodland, parkland, riverside paths and an attractive hilltop town.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Flood risk in meadows.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Amberley Circular via Arundel Park (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Ford.
Water meadows, riverside embankments, wooded downs, open chalk parkland, historic town and landscaped estate lake.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Flooding risk in meadows.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Arundel to Goring-by-Sea (Sussex)
6 minutes direct from Ford.
River path, wooded estate tracks, open downland, chalk hills, coastal plain and seaside seafront loop.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Pulborough to Amberley (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Ford.
Quaint historic village centre, gentle hills, marshland RSPB reserve, quiet roads through woodland and South Downs ridge with panoramic views of the Arun valley.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Shoreham-by-Sea to Littlehampton (Sussex)
30 minutes direct from Ford.
Flat coastal promenade, shingle beach, sandy beach, grassy seafront paths and seaside resorts.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Check tide timings.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Billingshurst to Amberley (Sussex)
30 minutes direct from Ford.
Gentle countryside, steep hills, hidden valleys, bluebell woods and South Downs crest with panoramic views.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Stiff hill climb.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Horsham to Haywards Heath (Sussex)
30 minutes direct from Ford.
Forest, fields, Sussex villages and views; St Leonard's Forest, historic Slaugham village, Cuckfield, South Downs views.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
St Leonard's Forest: An expansive forest of ancient woodland between Horsham and Crawley.
Slaugham: Very small, but picturesque.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Pulborough Circular via Greatham Bridge (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Ford.
Water meadows, riverside embankments, low hills, parkland, airfield edge, heathland, woodland and thatched village.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be boggy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Brighton Circular via the Royal Pavilion (Sussex)
45 minutes direct from Ford.
Historic city core and seafront, with a medieval church, Regency squares, the piers, the Royal Pavilion, the North Laine and parks.
The Royal Pavilion: George IV's exotic Indo-Saracenic seaside palace in central Brighton.
Brighton Palace Pier: A Victorian pleasure pier of rides and amusements over the sea.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).