Time Out Book of Country Walks volume 1

53 country walks in south east England, an hour or so by train from London

  • A walk for every week of the year, and 1 to spare
  • Walks are 7 to 14 miles in length with very detailed directions - you don't need an OS map.
  • Walks start and finish at train stations
  • Walks stop at a country pub for lunch and at a tea room (or pub) for tea
  • Walks pass beautiful villages, ancient forests, country pubs, and historic houses, castles and gardens
  • OS maps, updates, user feedback, new walks options, and GPS data available here.
  • After your walk, we welcome your feedback, photos and videos.
Sadly, we no longer recommend buying the book as it is now dated. Updated versions of all the walks are available here.
Region Star # Walk Km Effort Ht. gain Description London
Bedfordshire 17 Bow Brickhill to Woburn Sands 18.7 6 275 Woburn Abbey and its Safari Park (animals visible from the path) via many gentle hills E
Berkshire 33 Mortimer to Aldermaston 15.9 3 75 Gentle. A stream, Roman Calleva, and an optional canal side extension. P
Berkshire 18 Sunningdale to Windsor 17.0 2 125 Virginia Water, Windsor Great Park, the Long Walk, and Windsor Castle CJ W
Buckinghamshire 10 Beaconsfield Circular 19.5 4 200 Gentle hills, Chalfont St Giles, and Jordans, a hamlet with Quaker links M
Buckinghamshire 41 Bow Brickhill to Leighton Buzzard 14.7 2 250 The Greensand Ridge, River Ouzel and Grand Union Canal E
Buckinghamshire 5 Great Missenden to Amersham 16.3 5 300 The Chilterns, beech woods, and Little Missenden. M
Buckinghamshire 45 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden 15.7 6 350 Hilly. The Chilterns, and Bryant's Bottom M
Buckinghamshire 52 Princes Risborough to Wendover 16.9 6 475 The Ridgeway, lovely views and the Chilterns. M
Buckinghamshire 11 Tring to Wendover 21.0 6 225 A Grand Union Canal walk in the morning, fields in the middle, and finally the wooded hills of the Chilterns CJ EC E
Cambridgeshire 26 Shelford to Cambridge 23.5 5 50 Granchester, the River Cam and the Cambridge colleges. LS
East Sussex 31 Glynde to Seaford 23.0 8 450 The best walk in the book! A South Downs ridge, picture postcard Alfriston, Cuckmere Haven (beach), and cliffs with views of the Seven Sisters. Long but worth it. V
East Sussex 29 Hassocks to Lewes 18.0 5 400 A South Downs ridge walk ... maximum view for minimum effort, with historic Lewes to finish. TL CJ EC StP V
East Sussex 25 Winchelsea to Hastings 20.3 9 575 The hardest walk in the book. A gentle start with the 1066 Path and a great pub for lunch. After lunch, a great coastal cliff walk with 4 steep climbs, Fairlight Glen naturist beach, fish and chips on Hastings seafront, so one for summer. TL CX StP
Essex 8 Bures to Sudbury 16.0 4 175 The Stour Valley Way, Gainsborough country and historic Sudbury. LS
Essex 39 Manningtree Circular 17.3 4 150 River Stour - Constable country LS
Essex 46 Wakes Colne to Bures 17.7 5 150 The Colne Valley, thatched cottages, brooks, farms, woods and undulating hills LS
Essex 30 Wivenhoe Circular 14.8 2 125 2 circular walks on either side of the Colne estuary. **check ferry times in advance** LS
Hampshire 3 Netley to Botley 15.2 2 100 The Solent Way and the River Swanick with sea views, marinas and mudflats W
Hampshire 48 Whitchurch to Andover 19.0 3 125 Longparish, thatched cottages and the River Test W
Hertfordshire 7 Garston to St Albans 14.0 1 100 River Ver, historic St Albans and the Roman town of Verulamium E
Kent 36 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 16.1 4 225 A Country House, Igtham Mote (NT), Knole Palace and deer park (NT), as well as pretty countryside, and close to London. V
Kent 28 Chilham to Canterbury 20.1 4 225 A pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral via the Great Stour River, hop fields and orchards TL StP V
Kent 35 Crowhurst to Battle 20.0 4 300 Gentle woods and fields, the Battle of Hastings, and Battle Abbey CX
Kent 19 Hever to Leigh 14.2 2 150 2 castles, a stately home, rivers, ponds, woods, undulating hills and three lovely villages EC LB
Kent 21 Leigh to Sevenoaks 14.5 5 225 A gentle morning past fields and Oasthouses, then a steep climb to Knole Palace (NT) and its deer park CX
Kent 15 Leigh to Tunbridge Wells 18.9 5 350 Penshurst Place (a stately home), rivers, woods, and Kent's rolling hills CX
Kent 43 Otford Circular via Romney Street 12.0 6 275 A short walk packed with variety and fine views, bluebell woods in season, a pretty village and a short train journey TL CX StP V
Kent 23 Otford to Eynsford 14.1 5 225 2 climbs, the River Darent, two castles, and a Roman villa TL CX StP V
Kent 53 Wye Circular 18.1 7 550 Out over the North Downs with breathtaking views to lunch in Sole Street. Back up over the Downs, then returning along the Great Stour river. Muddy in winter. TL CX StP V
Kent 50 Yalding to Borough Green 16.8 3 275 A gentle walk along The Greensand Way and through Mereworth Woods TL CX StP
Oxfordshire 24 Cookham to Maidenhead 16.8 3 150 A figure of 9 - Up over Winter Hill, overlooking the Thames Valley, then along the Thames Path. P
Oxfordshire 40 Gerrards Cross to Cookham 15.7 2 150 Bulstrode Park and Burnham Beeches woods, the Thames, and Stanley Spencer M
Oxfordshire 38 Hanborough to Charlbury 22.1 5 375 Blenheim Palace, its beautiful landscaped parkland, a Roman road, and flint stone villages. P
Oxfordshire 1 Henley Circular via Great Wood 16.5 3 175 The Thames Path in the morning, historic Hambledon for lunch, and back via the hills above Henley in the afternoon. Short but pretty. P
Oxfordshire 51 Henley to Pangbourne 19.2 6 250 A lovely country ramble, starts and finishes by the Thames, via forests and country pubs. P
Oxfordshire 13 Oxford Circular 16.3 1 0 The Rivers Isis and Cherwell, Wolvercote Common, the Oxford Canal, a tour of the old town and historic Colleges, Oxford Castle and Mound M P
Oxfordshire 4 Pangbourne Circular 13.7 3 225 Pretty villages, a toll bridge, fine views of the Thames in the morning and a serene stroll through a rural idyll after lunch. P
Oxfordshire 9 Shiplake to Henley 17.7 4 225 The River Thames, Rotherfield Greys village, Greys Court (NT) and historic Henley P
Surrey 49 Box Hill to Leatherhead 11.8 7 300 Short, 2 steep climbs and the view from Box Hill in the morning, and a gentle river valley after lunch CJ V
Surrey 12 Farnham to Godalming 20.6 6 275 A long but pretty walk with gentle hills via a nice mixture of river valley, forest tracks, and many beautiful country houses. CJ W
Surrey 14 Gomshall to Guildford 15.6 3 175 Historic Shere, then a walk through a broad wooded valley, then along a canal to historic Guildford V W
Surrey 22 Haslemere Circular 14.0 5 375 Gentle woods in the morning and a climb to Black Down in the afternoon CJ W
Surrey 42 Holmwood to Gomshall 16.7 6 325 A very pretty forest walk, quite close to London, and the view from Leith Hill, the highest point in the Southeast. CJ V
Surrey 6 Liphook to Haslemere 15.0 5 375 Lovely walks through wooded Surrey Hills CJ W
Surrey 20 Milford to Godalming 18.6 5 325 The Greensand Way, Winkworth(a NT Arboretum), a canal, and historic Godalming. CJ W
Surrey 27 Milford to Haslemere 18.7 6 350 Its surprising how remote Surrey can be, pretty lakes, heathland, and Devil's Punchbowl as well. CJ W
Surrey 47 Ockley to Warnham 16.5 3 150 A quiet corner of Surrey - woods, gentle hills and a lovely lunchtime pub CJ V
Surrey 2 Wanborough to Godalming 12.9 3 250 Over the North Downs ridge to Watts Gallery, then a ramble to historic Godalming W
Surrey 44 Witley to Haslemere 14.5 3 175 A gentle walk to Chiddingfold and the Crown Inn CJ W
West Sussex 32 Arundel to Amberley 18.8 7 425 Arundel Castle, its parkland, and the South Downs CJ EC V
West Sussex 16 Balcombe Circular 19.0 5 400 Nymans Gardens (NT), and the ruins of Slaugham LB V
West Sussex 34 Balcombe to East Grinstead 17.2 6 425 Gentle wooded hills, Wakehurst Place Gardens (NT) and a reservoir LB V
West Sussex 37 Southbourne to Chichester 18.5 3 50 The inlets of Chichester Harbour (best at high tide) and the historic Cathedral town. V W

Last Updated : Mar-24