Walks you can reach from Hampden Park by train

Highly recommended: Three distinct downland ridges, wide open chalk paths, panoramic views, historic town streets and gentle valleys.

Monk's House – Virginia Woolf's Home (National Trust; 4h in)

Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

5 lunch spots: Glynde (1h45 in) — Glynde Stores & Post, or the Trevor Arms; plus the YHA Southease Hostel & Campsite (3h30 in), the Abergavenny Arms (4h in), or the Juggs (5h45 in)

Warnings: Three steep climbs.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Beautiful landscapes and multiple historic sights.

Pevensey Castle (15m in)

Herstmonceux Castle (2h30 in)

Battle Abbey and Battlefield (7h30 in)

Pevensey Levels

Battle (7h15 in)

Time: 10h (8h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

2 lunch spots: Nuthatch Kitchen and Terrace (2h30 in), or the Ash Tree Inn (4h45 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the White Hart Pub, or Battle Abbey and Battlefield

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Highly recommended: Farmland, reservoir, chalk downland, ridge grassland, chalk figure, smugglers villages and seaside resort.

Eastbourne (5h30 in)

Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

2 lunch spots: the Eight Bells (2h45 in), or Jevington Tea Garden (2h45 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Duke of Devonshire

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: South Downs ridge, chalk downland, Firle Park, river valley, ancient villages, forest, coastal cliffs, shingle beach and esplanade.

Alfriston Clergy House (National Trust; 3h15 in)

Time: 8h (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

5 lunch spots: Alfriston (3h15 in) — the Star Inn, the Old Smugglers Inn, or the Six Bells; plus the Ram Inn, Firle (45m in), or the Plough & Harrow (3h45 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Cuckmere Inn, or the Old Boot Inn

Warnings: Crumbly cliff edges.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

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.

Lewes (15m in)

Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

2 lunch spots: the Trevor Arms (1h45 in), or the Ram Inn, Firle (2h30 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).

Highly recommended

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Hastings (3h45 in)

Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)

2 lunch spots: the New Beach Club (1h30 in), or the Cove (2h in)

8 end-of-walk rewards: the Jolly Fisherman, the Lord Nelson, the Royal Standard, the London Trader, the Hastings Arms, Ye Olde Pumphouse, the Cutter, or the Albion

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Spectacular white cliffs in a well-protected national landscape. Immense white chalk cliffs, sea, marshes, meadows and beachfront.

Hilly: a quarter on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Eastbourne (2h30 in)

Birling Gap (National Trust; 3h15 in)

Cuckmere Valley (National Trust; 4h45 in)

Seven Sisters Country Park

Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

4 lunch spots: the Kiosk (1h15 in), Cadence Cafe Beachy Head (2h in), the Beachy Head Pub (2h in), or Birling Gap café (3h15 in; excellent)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Cuckmere Inn

Best months: Jun-Jul (when the chalk is gleaming).

Warnings: Very popular and busy.

Source: Trains2Green.

Highly recommended: Clifftop coastal path, steep climbs, remote naturist beach, flat marshland, ancient hilltop towns and panoramic viewpoints.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Lamb House (National Trust; 6h in)

Time: 7h30 (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

Warnings: Crumbly cliff edges.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

All-tarmac seafront town walk past grand Victorian hotels, a pier, a Martello tower, the Winter Gardens, a gallery and elegant districts; a few moderate climbs.

Eastbourne

Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Gently undulating farmland, open fields, bluebell woods, reservoir shorepath and quiet country lanes with fine downs and weald views.

Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Can be slippery.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Downland villages of artists and history: a Ravilious-painted cottage, a stately house, a Roman villa site and parish churches, with pubs en route.

Firle Place: A Tudor-cored country house, seat of the Gage family, open to the public.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Travelog Lewes (tips, photos, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Hilly clifftop path, steep glens, shingle and sandy beach, forested inland valleys, coastal headlands, bracken and eroding cliffs.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Crumbly cliff edges.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).