One-day hikes from London

[paranoiaofpufflings]

I’m looking for ideas for one-day hikes accessible by public transport from London.
I would like to travel by train (or bus) out somewhere, walk for minimum 4 hours, maximum 8 hours, then take a train (tube, bus, whatever) back into London.
I obviously could just take a train somewhere and start walking then come back, but I might end up on a boring road with nothing to see. So I’m hoping for recognised walks, set routes and pathways, etc.
Any recommendations?

Have you done the London Loop OP? We had the best time, and you can join up sections. Everything doable by public transport, it's designed that way.

Highly recommend around Guildford/Surrey Hills. We downloaded the AllTrails app (not sure if it has a free trial) which shows lots of routes and super easy to get to from Waterloo.

https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/the-home-counties-from-london-by-train-pathfinder-walking-guidebook/

I recommend this book for the kind of walk you are looking for

Anywhere along the Thames path could work. Chilterns and the Ridgeway are options with lots of trains back to London (Bicester, Oxford, Thame, amersham, Tring, Hemel Hempstead) but I don't know any specific routes

Take a look at Zoe Tehrani on Instagram. She does lots of walks that are not too far from London and easily accessible by train.

Take the train direct from Waterloo to Brockenhurst for this 10 mile loop https://newforestwalks.co.uk/walks/lyndhurstbrockenhurstloop.html/

Also from Brockenhurst, you could do this 7 miler which looks lovely at this time of year https://newforestwalks.co.uk/walks/roydon-woods-brockenhurst.html/ you could add on this walk in reverse to Sway and then catch the train back to Brockenhurst https://newforestwalks.co.uk/walks/sway-station-to-brockenhurst.html/

This is another nice one from Henley on Thames station https://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk-1720-description Both ends of the walk have stations.

This is brilliant, lots of good suggestions here, thanks everyone. I am going to look them all up, pick one for this weekend, then work my way through them all over the summer!

Have a look at https://www.railwalks.co.uk/walks/southeast - it gives links to lots of routes which are specifically planned to go between stations.

You need the Time Out book of country walks near London!

The Time Out books are now out of date and have been replaced by this website:

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/

It is brilliant, umpteen variants in a given area, short or long versions, gives full train details, and pubs and cafes. Each description gives a date the walk was checked on.

I use an app called Komoot for finding routes.

Coastal walks in Thanet are perfect this time of year. E.g. Ramsgate to Margate and beyond.

There are lots of groups on Meetup that do day hikes from London, meeting at major stations and going out into the counties around. You could get some ideas by looking at where they go (or even join a hike).

I’m so glad I started this thread, so many great ideas, thanks everyone!

Train to Eastbourne, walk over Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters . Fabulous scenery. You can duck out at Birling Gap or Cuckmere Haven and get on a bus, or keep walking to Seaford for the train home. The full walk is 13 miles, but, you can do sections.

Train to Box Hill Station, walk up to Box Hill, do The Box Hill Hike, trail marked and on a map leaflet from the NT info hut. The hike is 8 miles, a v interesting walk, plus to and from the station

You would be able to do sections of the North Downs Way easily by public transport. I would suggest the areas around the borders of London and Kent or Surrey would be suitable. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/north-downs-way/

Look up Dover to Folkestone, the Two Harbours walk: a hike along some excellent coast, station to station.

And the White Cliffs of Dover Loop from Walmer where there is a station.
www.komoot.com/smarttour/1407887

OP: you will need some sort of map or guidebook for these walks. That may sound obvious but from your OP I wasn’t sure how experienced you are.

National footpaths tend to have sign posts sparsely spread, and the National Trust Box Hill Hike has a leaflet from the Info centre and helpful red arrows along the route but many of these walks you will need a map.

Have a great time!

Guildford to Dorking via the ND way..

Or Woldingham to Dorking also via the ND way..

Brockenhurst then a loop on the New Forest or down to Lymington and back is a good shout too.

Of if you want nice and flat…
Train to Winchfield the walk along the Basingstoke canal to Woking, plenty of nice pubs en route.

Take the train from Marylebone to Princes Risborough, Saunderton or Wendover - lots of lovely walks accessible from those stations.

Or from Marylebone to Aylesbury Vale Parkway, where there is a lovely green walk up to Waddesdon Manor (National Trust grounds)

Could you tell us more about these meetup groups, i.e. names?

thanks !!

Pilgrims Way from Southwark cathedral or the Tabard Inn to Canterbury. Some stretches are labelled as such, but others you have to work out on a map. Personally I walked round docklands (Rotherhithe/Surrey Quays) at the start, as the Old Kent Road /A2 isn't particularly pleasant to walk along. Woolwich wasn't great either but once you get out of London, it's lovely.

The Kennet and Avon canal between Great Bedwyn Station and Aldermaston station is lovely. The canal and the train line intertwine, but it is still peaceful
and literally once you are done the station is there and you can head back to London.