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Time Out Book of Country Walks volume 2

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

  • Walks start and finish at train stations.
  • Walks are 5 to 14 miles in length with detailed directions - you don't need an OS map.
  • 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
  • Online 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
Berkshire 9 Kintbury to Great Bedwyn 21.0 5 325 Quiet fields before lunch, the Test Way (a long, open, ridge walk, potentially muddy), and a pretty forest walk to return to pretty, canalside Bedwyn. P
Buckinghamshire 4 Chesham to Great Missenden 15.5 3 225 Undulating Chilterns walk close to London with lunch in The Lee, a charming village, and the woods of Frith Hill to finish.
Buckinghamshire ★ 2 Saunderton via Bledlow Circular 17.3 6 375 The Chilterns: the Ridgeway Path over an open ridge, returning by peaceful and secluded valleys. M
Buckinghamshire 3 Saunderton via West Wycombe Circular 16.0 4 375 The Chilterns: wooded forests (very muddy in winter), Hughenden Manor (NT), West Wycombe Caves (of Hellfire club fame), finishing with a short ridge walk M
Buckinghamshire 5 Tring Circular 16.3 4 375 The Chilterns: An open ridge walk to Ivinghoe Beacon, gentle forests, and a classic village pub for tea. CJ EC E
Buckinghamshire 1 Wendover Circular 18.5 7 550 The Chilterns: gentle wooded hills and ridges. M
East Sussex ★ 27 Berwick to Eastbourne 20.5 7 400 A reservoir, then the South Downs Way past pretty villages (Jevington and Wilmington) and a ridge walk. V
East Sussex ★ 29 Hastings to Rye 19.0 7 475 Seaside Hastings, a hilly cliff walk with 4 steep climbs and a remote naturist beach. Gentle afternoon to historic Winchelsea and Rye via a noted viewpoint. TL CX StP V
East Sussex 24 Lewes to Saltdean 15.5 4 400 South Downs Way along a chalk ridge in the morning, remote Rodmell for lunch, then back up and over the downs to the coast. Undercliff path, or bus to Brighton V
East Sussex 25 Lewes via West Firle Circular 23.3 7 450 Long. A steep hill (views) to Glynde. Lunch in quiet West Firle, then the South Downs Way (chalk ridge), with a flat valley walk back to historic Lewes V
East Sussex 20 Robertsbridge Circular 18.5 4 375 Quiet, rolling hills, Bodiam Castle (NT), with a gentler finish. CX
East Sussex ★ 28 Seaford to Eastbourne 21.9 9 350 The best walk in the Southeast! A dramatic cliff walk passing Cuckemere Haven, the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head as the South Downs meets the sea. Ends with Eastbourne's promenade and pier. LB V
East Sussex 26 Southease to Seaford 18.1 6 350 A loop to Rodmell for lunch, then up and across the South Downs. Finishes by the sea. V
Hampshire 10 Alton Circular 20.4 4 375 Long but gentle walk visiting Selborne and Chawton, which inspired Jane Austen (writer) and Gilbert White (naturalist) CJ W
Hampshire 11 Petersfield to Liss 16.6 5 425 Shoulder of Mutton Hill (steep, fine view) and a very walker friendly pub CJ W
Kent ★ 30 Dover to Deal 17.7 3 475 Easy cliff walk following the Saxon Shore Way along the 'White Cliffs of Dover' to historic Deal LB StP V
Kent 16 Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway 20.5 6 500 Long. The Greensand Way through remote wooded hills, passing Chartwell (Churchill, NT), Toys and Ide Hills. Gentle fields to finish. CJ EC LB V
Kent 21 Pluckley Circular 11.7 1 125 Gentle walk through quiet Kent Orchards with ancient pubs - Darling Buds of May territory. Hilly afternoon options. TL CX StP
Kent 17 Snodland to Sole Street 13.1 5 350 The North Downs, hilly with views after lunch, and tranquil Luddesdown for tea. TL StP
Kent 19 Stonegate Circular 15.5 3 300 Remote, rolling Hills, Burwash for Lunch and Batemans (NT, Rudyard Kipling's home) CX
Kent 18 Wadhurst Circular 19.0 4 650 The High Weald, quiet countryside - woods and rolling hills, the Sussex Border Path, and historic Mayfield for lunch. CX
Oxfordshire 7 Henley via Hambleden Circular 14.9 3 200 The Thames path in the morning. Gentle woodland after lunch in an NT Village, Historic riverside Henley for tea. P
Oxfordshire 6 Henley via Stonor Circular 23.4 6 525 Long walk through the Chilterns over gentle rolling grassy hills. Historic riverside Henley for tea. P
Oxfordshire 8 Marlow Circular 21.3 4 200 The Thames path in the morning, a classic pub for lunch, gentle hill afterwards. P
Surrey 14 Effingham Junction to Westhumble 15.2 4 300 Polesden Lacy (dramatic NT country house) for lunch, steep woods opening out onto the North Downs Ridge, and an English vineyard for tea CJ LB W
Surrey 12 Guildford to Farnham 22.2 2 325 A river valley, gentle pastures, Watts Gallery, woods, remote heathlands and heather covered moors. CJ W
Surrey 13 Guildford to Gomshall 19.2 5 525 Historic Guildford, The North Downs Way and St Martha-on-the-Hill Church, picturesque Shere. Option to continue along the NDW to Dorking CJ W
Surrey 15 Riddlesdown to Coulsdon South 16.8 4 300 Happy Valley and Farthing Down, close to London (Zone 6) CJ EC V
West Sussex 22 Amberley to Arundel 14.5 5 225 South Downs in the morning, then follows the river Arun to Historic Arundel (Castle, Cathedral) CJ EC V
West Sussex 23 Hassocks to Upper Beeding 16.3 7 575 3 steep hills with fine views before lunch at Devil's Dyke. A gentle ridge walk in the afternoon to Upper Beeding (short bus ride to Shoreham station) TL CJ EC StP V