5 more car-free country walks by train
When lockdown lifted but museums were still shut, there was not much we could actually… do.
Step forward the humble country walk!
Here are five stunning car-free country walks, all tried and tested.
Walk 1 - Otford Circular
This is one of our absolute favourites. You literally step off the platform onto the first footpath, then it’s 6.4 miles of either steeply rolling, wooded hills; or a meander along the beautiful Darent Valley.
The Darent Valley. Photo from Glen at kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.com/
The walk also takes you through the village of Shoreham, which turns out to be absolutely extraordinary: a picture postcard English village that would suit the set of a Hugh Grant rom-com.
Picture-postcard village of Shoreham. Photo by Glen at kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.com/
It’s one of those walks where you just have to pinch yourself to believe you’re so close to London.
If you want to do a slightly longer walk, you can go up to Lullingstone Castle from Shoreham
Map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/7664285/Otford-circular
Train fare to Otford return for an adult: £15
Train fare to Otford return for a family of four with family railcard: £25
Journey time on the train: 40 mins
Train runs from: Victoria (though there are also slower trains from Charing Cross, London Bridge, Blackfriars and the other Thameslink stations)
Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
Walk 2: Westhumble to Ranmore
In this previous post, I wax lyrical about the miracle of Balcombe, and just how many fantastic country walks start at this one station. You’re going to see a similar phenomenon with the wonderfully-named Boxhill & Westhumble station.
The views from this walk over the Mole Valley are stunning. When Thomas turned to me and said “This is like being in Switzerland!”, he’d probably allowed his enjoyment to get the better of his judgement, but I did get his point. Though, given the size of the vineyard you pass, it’s more like the Loire…
To extend this walk, simply continue along the North Downs Way for as long as you want before turning back
Map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/7664938/Westhumble-to-Ranmore
Train fare to Boxhill & Westhumble return for an adult: £15
Train fare to Boxhill & Westhumble return for a family of four with family railcard: £20
Journey time on the train: 1 hr
Train runs from: Victoria and Waterloo (also Vauxhall for Victoria line)
Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
Walk 3 - Hever to Leigh
Very much a walk of two halves this: the first half is rolling hills and woodland; the second half an open river valley.
It’s 6.4 miles, though if you want a more leisurely stroll, you can end it at Penshurst station (conveniently directly opposite a pub!).
The pub in Chiddingstone Village. Photo by Loco Steve
And if you want to make your leisurely stroll even more leisurely, you can stop off in the charmingly cosy Chiddingstone Castle tearoom on the way for some really tasty cake (we did!).
Chiddingstone village itself is a perfectly-preserved tudor village, with the entire main street now owned by the National Trust.
Map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/7665026/Hever-to-Leigh
Train fare to Hever return for an adult: £15
Train fare to Hever return for a family of four with family railcard: £25
Journey time on the train: 40 mins
Train runs from: London Bridge
Rating: 🌳🌳🌳
Note that you come back from a station on a different line, so technically your return to Hever isn’t valid. However, we made sure we came back on the Southern Railway line via Redhill so we were coming back with the same company we went out with, and there wasn’t an issue.
Walk 4 - Tring to Berkhamsted
This is a proper walk in the woods. You enter glorious National Trust owned woodland after about a mile, and stay there for most of the rest of the walk.
The village green in Aldbury
That first mile includes the village of Aldbury; yet another pure picture postcard village. We had no idea there were so many picturesque villages so close to London!
The route drops you into Berkhamsted right next to the ruined castle.
Particular shout-out to the The Boat pub in Berkhamsted. We’ve had quite a few pub lunches on these walks, but this was a particular favourite.
Map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/7665116/Tring-to-Berkhamsted
Train fare to Tring return for an adult: £15
Train fare to Tring return for a family of four with family railcard: £25
Journey time on the train: 30 mins
Train runs from: Euston
Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳
Walk 5 - Betchworth to Box Hill
A shorter one this, as it brings you up to the summit of Box Hill, which is classic lazing-on-a-lawn-for-the-whole-afternoon territory. While only four miles long, it packs a punch. The views from Pilgrim’s Way are incredible and the walk down from Box Hll includes fording the River Mole on stepping stones.
Stepping stones! Though after wet weather, they can be submerged. Photo by Diamond Geezer
A word of warning on the trains: the journey back from Boxhill & Westhumble is simple, but Betchworth tripped us up. You get the Thameslink or Victoria train to Redhill, then change onto the train to Betchworth. The Betchworth train ends up in Reading but super-confusingly, there’s another train to Reading from the same platform 5 minutes earlier that zooms straight through Betchworth. As we found out…
For a ticket, buy a return to Dorking, as that covers you for the train ride out and back.
Map: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/7665198/Betchworth-to-Box-Hill
Train fare to Dorking return for an adult: £10
Train fare to Dorking return for a family of four with family railcard: £15
Journey time on the train: 1 hour
Train runs from: Victoria or Thameslink, change at Redhill for Betchwork. Return from Boxhill & Westhumble to Victoria or Waterloo
We loved all of these walks so hope you do as well! Let me know how you get on at @Insta.
