Walks near Worthing by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Worthing and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Worthing.
Fishbourne Circular via Chichester Harbour (Sussex)
30 minutes from Worthing, with one change.
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).
Amberley to Arundel (Sussex)
30 minutes from Worthing, 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.
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.
Lewes Circular via Southease (Sussex)
45 minutes from Worthing, with one change.
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.
Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea (Sussex)
30 minutes from Worthing, 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: 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.
Lewes to Southease (Sussex)
45 minutes from Worthing, 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.
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).
Glynde to Seaford (Sussex)
1 hour from Worthing, with one change.
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.
Berwick to Eastbourne (Sussex)
1 hour from Worthing, with one change.
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.
Balcombe Circular via Nymans (Sussex)
45 minutes from Worthing, with one change.
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.
Hassocks Circular via Ditchling Beacon (Sussex)
30 minutes direct from Worthing.
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.
Haywards Heath Circular via Lindfield (Sussex)
45 minutes direct from Worthing.
Low hills, Ouse Valley, woodland, nature reserves, fields, hedgerows, historic villages and canal-era river crossings.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Arundel Circular via South Stoke Barn (Sussex)
30 minutes from Worthing, with one change.
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)
30 minutes from Worthing, with one change.
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).