Walks near Horsham by train

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.

Chichester Harbour (1h15 in)

Bosham (1h30 in)

Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens (2h30 in)

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

4 lunch spots: Bosham (1h45 in) — the Anchor Bleu, Timberley's, Marwick's, or the Berkeley Arms

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).

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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: 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.

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).

Recommended: Many worthy historic sights along this route — Nymans itself, the village of Slaugham, and two beautiful medieval churches. The first half of the walk is through idyllic rolling woodland. The second half is marred by mostly following (very quiet) roads and lanes rather than footpaths. Mostly secluded.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Footbridge and Lake Overflow at Nymans Woodland (National Trust; 1h15 in)

Bench With View of the Lake, High Weald National Landscape (National Trust; 1h15 in)

Nymans: "An extensive yet intimate garden set around a romantic house and ruins" (1h45 in).

St Mary's Church (2h15 in)

Slaugham: Very small, but picturesque (2h15 in).

The Ruins of Slaugham Place: The remains of a fine Tudor mansion (2h30 in).

St Mark's Church, Staplefield (3h in)

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

3 lunch spots: Handcross (1h45 in) — Nymans café, JO.CO cafe, or the Red Lion

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.

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.

Recommended: Quaint village, woods and hilly.

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

Ditchling (45m in)

South Downs National Park: Ditchling Area (National Trust; 1h30 in)

Ditchling Beacon: One of the highest points on the South Downs with near-360-degree views (1h45 in).

Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)

4 lunch spots: Ditchling (45m in) — the White Horse, the Nutmeg Tree, or Ditchling Village; plus the Jack & Jill (3h in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Hassocks

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Source: Trains2Green.