Hiking between stations

67018 · 15 Mar 2013

The 'National Trust by Rail' thread got me thinking of other ways of combining rail trips and the countryside. Does anyone know of some good/scenic walks between stations? Obviously it's possible to go somewhere scenic and do a circular walk or go between stations (Moreton in Marsh to Kingham is very nice, for example), but I was thinking of less obvious ones involving adjacent lines, which also gives the chance to try different lines/stock.

A couple as a starter for 10:
The whole North Downs Way national trail can be done as day trips between stations; the western end skirts the south of London so crosses the radial lines at regular intervals.

The two Chiltern lines are also good, offering a variety of routes between Wendover/Great Missenden and Princes Risborough/Saunderton/High Wycombe, and the other way to Tring.

The Oxfordshire Way from Charlbury to Islip is another good one and currently a chance to use one of the more obscure lines and stations before it's upgraded.

Anyone got any more?

RailUK Forums

Ploughman · 15 Mar 2013

To be picky you could Hike between any station.

However there are a number of different end to end walks available along the Settle and Carlisle. starting and finishing at stations.
I think there is also a walk from Hebden Bridge to Haworth for Keighley.

Latecomer · 15 Mar 2013

How about the hike from Ilkley over Ilkley Moor to Crossflats near Bingley?

I used to do that walk as a return trip from Ilkley college - the lure being a dinner plate sized Yorkshire pudding filled with roast beef and gravy in the Dick Hudson pub on the Otley Road. This was 25 years ago mind.

pjnathanail · 15 Mar 2013

A somewhat longer walk is from sheringham to Hunstanton along the Norfolk coastal path, and it can be made shorter by using the coasthopper bus for parts of it. From Hunstanton an FCC rail bus runs to kings Lynn for trains back to Ely and london

Bungle73 · 15 Mar 2013

There are loads of books featuring walks in the countryside from railway stations. There's a couple of them from Time Out. They even have a website listing them all, along with a ton of other free walks that aren't in the 2 books: http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/

One of the ideas is that everyone meets up each weekend to do that week's walk listed on the website.

One of their walks that I can really recommend is one I finally got around to doing last year: Seaford to Eastbourne, along the Seven Sisters cliffs. It really is a spectacular walk. Very long though (13.8 miles), but worth it.

Another two I liked, but which I haven't done for years, take you from Tring to Wendover, and from Gerrard's Cross to Cookham. Both of these take you between two different TOC's lines.

There is a ton more to choose from.

LexyBoy · 15 Mar 2013

Ploughman said:
To be picky you could Hike between any station.

Southampton-Ryde? Exeter-Lympstone Commando?

30907 · 15 Mar 2013

Various TOCs offer suggestions in leaflets or on their websites.

Ilkley to Bingley over the moor comes immediately to mind (though no advantages in terms of variety of rolling stock), or Brierfield to Clitheroe over Pendle (I might use bus for part of that). Oxenhope to Hebden Bridge, if there's a footpath route.

I recall doing Borough Green-Mereworth Woods-Wateringbury or something similar once.

Andyjs247 · 15 Mar 2013

How about Henley - Marlow along the Thames Path? In fact you could pick any any pair of stations close to the river; Pangbourne - Shiplake, Bourne End - Taplow... depends on how far you want to go but many many possibilities.

High Dyke · 15 Mar 2013

Another one is the 'Poacher Line' from Nottingham - Grantham - Skegness.

http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/poacherline/east-midlands-trains-and-fares/leaflets/

67018 · 15 Mar 2013

Ploughman said:
To be picky you could Hike between any station.

Indeed, I should have been more specific. I was thinking about walks that could be done within a day, giving the optimum balance of train bashing and exercise.

As well as Eastbourne to Seaford, Southease is handy for the South Downs Way, with options towards Lewes or Seaford. I like the Thames path idea, another one that way is Goring & Streatley to Henley.

Another less obvious one that came to mind is Eltham to Erith along the Green Chain - did that years ago and surprisingly pleasant given the location.

P.S. Note to self: proof read the title as well as the post :oops:

Be3G · 15 Mar 2013

pjnathanail said:
From Hunstanton an FCC rail bus runs to kings Lynn for trains back to Ely and london

It's not actually an FCC bus, or at least it wasn't when I caught it a few years ago it's just a regular bus operated by First Bus and therefore doesn't (for example) make special attempts to connect with the train if there're problems by waiting for it (or vice-versa). Through ticketing is available, though.

Essexman · 15 Mar 2013

On the Essex coast -

Fambridge to Burnham-on-Crouch is a nice walk along the river bank (or either to Althorne for a shorter walk).

Walton-on-the-Naze to Clacton is by the sea almost all the way.

Any combination of stations from Benfleet to Shoeburyness make easy walks - Benfleet to Leigh is best, either via Hadleigh Castle or along sea wall.

alex17595 · 15 Mar 2013

avocet line is good, follow the cycle train or there's a footpath on the other side about 5 feet from the track!

I did a walk between dawlish - Paignton (18 miles) that's a nice walk along the coast path, and follows the track along teignmouth sea wall. but you could use any of them depending on how far you want to walk.
or the Derwent Valley line is very scenic, and you can choose between hilly and flat at the valley bottom!

6Gman · 15 Mar 2013

LexyBoy said:
Southampton-Ryde? Exeter-Lympstone Commando?

Stanlow to Lympstone Commando would give you the opportunity to make new friends at both ends.

Mostly security guards!

:lol:

fenview · 15 Mar 2013

IIRC, many (many) years ago, BR's Western Region sold tickets specifically for going to one selected station and returning from another, and published booklets describing the walk between them. I think around the Maidenhead/Bourne End area.

6Gman · 15 Mar 2013

Once walked Sandbach - Middlewich - Winsford.

Not recommended!

Virtually guaranteed death under a HGV!

Tracked · 15 Mar 2013

along the Hope Valley route, have done Edale to Hathersage via Mam Tor a few times - via Castleton & past Hollins Clough for a panoramic via of the the Hope Valley Line.

Qwerty133 · 15 Mar 2013

pjnathanail said:
A somewhat longer walk is from sheringham to Hunstanton along the Norfolk coastal path, and it can be made shorter by using the coasthopper bus for parts of it. From Hunstanton an FCC rail bus runs to kings Lynn for trains back to Ely and london

but dont bother trying to walk the other way from sheringham to cromer as the cliffs have fell in and you have to use the road between east runton and cromer (as of july 2012)

Weary Walker · 15 Mar 2013

The Vanguard Way. (East Croydon - Oxted - Edenbridge - Buxted - Berwick - Newhaven via Seaford) [Those are the stations I used to break it up, Oxted is slightly off route]

Downs Link (Guildford - Christs Hospital - Shoreham)

Most of Sussex Border Path & South Downs Way can be used. Eg Gatwick to East Grinstead.

Southern sections of the Pennine Way eg Edale to Glossop (PW to Old Woman then via Doctor's Gate), Hadfield to Marsden (Longdendale Way to Crowden then PW then Kirklees Way), Marsden to Littleborough or Hebden Bridge.

Just going by those I've done for the walking (and not driving).
Can't comment on the usefulness for train enjoyment.

merlodlliw · 15 Mar 2013

There are some good guided walks on Sundays on the HOWL line between Shrewsbury & Llandrindod Wells.

You may be interested in Railway Ramblers, I am a non walking member link here

http://www.railwayramblers.org.uk/homepage/homepage.htm usually on old lines with metals lifted, but rambles linked in at live stations.

Bob

alex17595 · 15 Mar 2013

6Gman said:
Stanlow to Lympstone Commando would give you the opportunity to make new friends at both ends.

Mostly security guards!

doesn't the estuuary trail go past it?

philjo · 15 Mar 2013

I did Dent to Ribblehead - stayed in Settle & used the train to/from the walk.
We didn't use the most direct route so it was about 9-10 miles.
first half hour steep uphill on the road out of Dent station.
another uphill later to climb up on to Blea Moor - the footpath across the moor follows the line of Blea Moor tunnel underneath so you pass the air vents for the tunnel. then descend down pass Blea Moor signalbox and underneath the viaduct to the station.
main issue is timing, as there are long gaps in the trains back in the afternoon!

Burley in Wharfedale up onto Ilkley Moor & down to the Cow & Calf Rocks and on into Ilkley is also a good one for a shorter distance (though with a long uphill out of Burley!)

Bungle73 · 15 Mar 2013

Another great one is Hassocks to Lewes, along the ridge of the South Downs. You enter Lewes along the river and through the castle gateway. In fact that whole area of the South Downs is great for walking, and England's newest national park also.

Another cliff walk is down this way: Dover to Deal, via St. Magaret's Bay. Great view near the start from the top of the cliffs of the habour.
Both in the books I mentioned.

Weary Walker said:
Downs Link (Guildford - Christs Hospital - Shoreham)

I did that by bike quite a few years ago. Due to one thing or another, including the book I was following seriously under-estimating how long it would take, me starting late, me having a hard time finding my way out of Guildford, and a puncture I didn't get home until something like 2 in the morning! I did it again a few years later with much more favourable results.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Actually I did a nice one yesterday: Putney Bridge Tube to Barnes Bridge along the Thames, stopping at a riverside pub for lunch in the Hammersmith area. Actually, the route continued on the opposite bank back to Putney, but I've shortened it to fit in with your criteria. It would be a shame to miss out on the second half though, which has a complety different feel from the first - more like a path though the country.

Cletus · 15 Mar 2013

I've walked from Birmingham New Street to Bournville a couple of times. You get to the canal towpath and the railway's on your right. About 4.5-5 miles total.

I'm planning to walk between Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden stations along the Rochdale canal in June (weather permitting). About 10 miles.

67018 · 15 Mar 2013

fenview said:
IIRC, many (many) years ago, BR's Western Region sold tickets specifically for going to one selected station and returning from another, and published booklets describing the walk between them. I think around the Maidenhead/Bourne End area.

That would be really handy for walks between different lines, especially when the TOCs are different as well. I've had to scratch my head a few times over exactly what tickets I needed to cover the whole journey, in the days before discovering this forum and the joys of permitted routes!

Southern's Downlander ticket is perfect for this sort of thing, of course. As Bungle73 says the area is beautiful and the ticket allows for a lot of options, including buses as well. Shame things get very sparse west of Amberley.

Otford/Shoreham/Eynsford to Farningham Road down the Darent Valley is nice, but I never got round to doing the last bit down to Dartford. And I forgot to mention that Wye to Sandling along the North Downs Way gives a great view over HS1 and Ashford Station on the way. (In fact I left out the NDW route from the original post, which I did as Farnham-Guildford-Dorking-Merstham-Oxted-Otford-Cuxton-Hollingbourne-Wye-Sandling-Dover and Wye-Canterbury-Snowdown-Dover for the Canterbury loop)

billio · 15 Mar 2013

I have done a few :

Ribblehead to Clapham over Ingleborough
Ilkley to Saltaire over Ilkley Moor
Todmorden to Marsden along Pennine Way
Carlisle to Newcastle via Hadrian's Wall Path
Leeds to Shipley along Leeds and Liverpool canal

It's good idea. I have a few more planned.

I seem to remember that in the 1970's BR Southern Region used to issue return tickets from London stations to a number of places on different lines which were more or less the same distance away.

For example cheap off-peak return "Wimbledon Park to Bookham or Boxhill and West Humble" and Back . (For which I have adult and child tickets number 0001 - obviously not a popular journey - fare 46p and 23p respectively.) This was sometimes quite useful for planning long walks. Some of the walks we did :

Boxhill to Reading
Reigate to Boxhill
Leatherhead to Dorking
Petersfield to Amberley (a 2 day job)

oddiesjack · 15 Mar 2013

With regard to the Hope Valley line, this website gives details of some excellent walks between each pair of stations from Marple to Dore & Totley:

http://www.hvhptp.org.uk/walks/hope valley line walks.html

johnnychips · 15 Mar 2013

Lots of possibilities on the Esk Valley line.

richw · 15 Mar 2013

A couple of years back I did St Germans to Looe, Caught train to St Germans, walked down to the coast then followed the coast path to Looe.
I know of someone who took the train to Penzance then hiked round the coast path to St Ives, with hiking camp gear, a very nice walk if you've the time and weather.

67018 · 15 Mar 2013

Thanks all for some great ideas. In particular I'm not too familiar with the Peak District or Yorkshire so definitely food for thought there.

One more from me: Purbeck Way from Wareham to Corfe Castle fills in the (current) gap between the main line and the steam railway quite nicely.

Hiking between stations

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