Loving life in the big smoke but in need of a bit of woodland, coastal or countryside respite?! We’ve found 6 of the loveliest of walks and hikes in and around London for you to test out this weekend.
Seaford to Eastbourne
Take a train from London Victoria and head out towards Seaford for the Seaford to Eastbourne trail. This spectacular coastal walk (part of the Seven Sisters trail) is only around 90 mins from the city and will keep you occupied for a full day - the walk is around 13 miles - but there are shorter options if you fancy a quiet wander. On the other hand, the full Seven Sisters walk comes in at around 19 miles, so if you’ve got a bit of extra time on your hands this weekend, make it an overnight adventure and tackle the whole hike!
Chess Valley Walk
Meandering along the River Chess, the Chess Valley walk is 10 miles of gorgeousness in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With a chance to catch glimpses of kingfishers, water voles and brown trout and a path that weaves in and away from a beautiful chalk stream this is one countryside walk that will leave you feeling all kinds of tranquillity! Take an underground or overground to Rickmansworth, Chalfont & Latimer or Chorleywood stations.
Ditchling Beacon
Ditchling Beacon in West Sussex is just over 11km in length and takes around 3 hours to complete - perfect for a wandering day out of London. The trail is part of the Southdowns Way long-distance trail and takes in fields of wildflowers and windmills plus there’s a very convenient cafe along the way! Buses run from Brighton to Ditchling Beacon year-round and the trail is dog-friendly too.
Epping Forest Oak Trail
Take the Central Line from London and stop at Theydon Bois station to begin the Epping Forest Oak Trail. This is a lovely woodland walk that comes in at just under 7 miles or around 2-3 hours worth of hiking. You’ll pass a deer sanctuary along the way and make sure to pack a picnic for a bit of R&R along the way!
Box Hill Walks
With 8 different walks to choose from, get ready to make Box Hill a staple on your day-trip schedule. Follow alongside the River Mole, take in views of the Surrey Hills, take the butterfly walk or head down when the bluebells are carpeting the ground! The area is dog-friendly if your pup is on a lead and bring the kids along for some adventure play on Box Hill’s Natural Play Trail. Take the Southern line or the Southwestern railway to Box Hill and choose your own adventure!
Thames Path: Goring to Pangbourne
The Thames Path is a spectacular long-distance trail of more than 180 miles, running from Gloucestershire to Charlton. If you can’t squeeze all 180 into your weekend (!), we think the Goring to Pangbourne trail is a beautiful (shorter!) alternative! The walk takes you through the Goring Gap which is the narrowest part of the Thames Valley and this section of trail will take around 2 hours to complete - plenty of time for a coffee and a bit of lunch along the way! Take the train to Goring or Pangbourne and get to walking!
