Weekend walking from London

[PostmistressMcColl]

I would really like to have a walking weekend in the countryside along the lines of:
Train from London (2 hrs max say) first thing on a Saturday morning, walk for best part of the day (10-15 miles?), then dinner and overnight stay in a nice b&b/pub, then walk similar distance next day to a different train station, then train back to London late afternoon on the Sunday. Would anyone have any suggestions for a good route/location/accommodation? Thank you very much in advance. I feel like there should be loads of possibilities but struggling to find something!

Catch the train to Hove and follow the clifftop path to Newhaven. Part of the route also passes the popular Undercliff Walk Brighton from the marina at Black Rock to Saltdean. The walk follows a nice surfaced path along the sea wall with great views of the white cliffs and the sea. Much of the rest of this walk is on an elevated clifftop trail with great coastal views. It's about a 12 mile walk but fairly flat throughout. When you get to Newhaven, pick up the Vanguard Way along the coast to Seaford, which isn’t far at all.
On Sunday take the walk along the cliff known as The Seven Sisters. It’s 13 miles but fairy tough in places. You’ll get stunning (and very famous) views of the white cliffs of the Seven Sisters, and Beachy Head, before ending in Eastbourne. There is quite a lot of climbing and descending on the walk.

Following 😀

The South Downs, starting anywhere you fancy. ie. Lewes, Eastbourne

Hey, do the Surrey hills. Real easy- London to Guildford then you can walk the chantries, pearly down, Leigh hill and also lots of villages like shere, Albury, Bradley etc. Lots of lovely pubs. That should set you up for a few weekends.

Notable things to see: newlands corner, silent pool, st Martha's church on the top of the hill.

I do find the Surrey Hills stunning. They’re in the commuter belt so take almost no time to get to especially if you’re in South London.

this link has some nice ideas? Following as I too would like to do this, thanks op for asking the question!

The ridgeway in the chilterns is lovely. Train to Wendover and up and out in either direction. Lovely b&b in the village. Can walk along to Lewknor and villages in Oxfordshire and get the train back from somewhere along the route.

A section of the Thames Path?

There is a book that covers it, I will have a look.

You can be in Chesterfield for a bus/taxi into the Peak District in less than 2hrs from St Pancras.

Another vote for the Ridgeway - I did the whole length of it in sections from London by train. You could do either the Chilterns bit suggested above or Uffington to Avebury, with an overnight in Ogbourne St George.

It’s a lovely path, well sign posted and about as remote as you can get in the south of England.

Thank you so much for the brilliant ideas! Will get looking at these, thank again!

I’ve been thinking of a weekend trip to Canterbury and walking or cycling on the crab & winkle line to Whitstable or vice versa. This pub/restaurant has had some very good reviews and would make the weekend extra special.

These guys are wonderful. There are plenty of walks they have done and could recommend. Will is very knowledgeable about lovely walks you can do all over the place.

www.facebook.com/pilgrimtrust/

Second Thames path but sections can get very busy at the weekend. I’m frequently at Waterloo at the weekend and see lots of walking groups meeting up early mornings. Many have blogs/twitter with maps of walks done etc. They would be useful for ideas.
Have fun op.

The Saturday Walkers Club website has what you need.

The Time Out book called Country Walks from London has loads of great options. For an overnight stay I'd go out to Pluckley in Kent. It's absolutely gorgeous round there.

I was just about to recommend Country Walks from London but I see Daffodil has beaten me to it - great book!

And that’s the book the Saturday Walkers Club website is a spin-off from!