Introduction to the long distance paths south of London
The region south of London is rich in long distance paths. They generally run west to east, going with the grain of the region's geology. However, there are also a number of interesting north to south paths, cutting across the Downs and the Weald.
It is not possible to give a completely comprehensive list of the long distance paths - I still keep stumbling across ones I hadn't previously known about, and new paths are continuously created. The list of paths given on this page is therefore necessarily selective. I have included paths that are:
- known to me
- more than 50 km (about 30 miles) in length - paths that would take most walkers more than one day to walk
- well defined - by way marking, by being shown on an OS 1:25000 map, or by being described in a publication
- linear, and not just a network of connected short paths - excluding, for example, the Wantsum Walk shown on OS Explorer 150
I have included paths that have substantial sections within the region covered by this site, but which continue beyond the limits of the region (for example, the Monarch's Way). However, with the exception of the London Loop and the Capital Ring, I have only given details about the part of the path that falls within the region covered by this website.
Mashup paths south of London
I've adopted the term 'mashup' to mean a long distance path made up of sections of existing waymarked or promoted paths, with new short connecting sections defined where needed to create links. I've added a page that lists these mashup paths, including some that I've devised and described - for example, the Alternative South Downs Way, a 185 km (116 mile) route partly based on the Monarch's Way, from Eastbourne to Winchester.
Useful shorter paths south of London
There are a number of shorter paths that I've found useful as a link within a longer route or as part of a mashup. I've added a page that lists these shorter paths.
Other sources of information
The Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA) published a useful handbook, listing many long distance paths and giving basic details and a very brief description. Harvey published a companion Long Distance Path Chart that gave a full colour topographic map with the routes picked out by category. These have now been replaced by an online searchable database of paths and associated publications.
The Ramblers Association also publishes a list of 'Long Distance Paths and Promoted Routes in Britain' on its web site.
Selective list of long distance paths south of London, in order of length
Note that the lengths quoted are (with the exception of the London Loop and the Capital Ring) for the part of the path that falls within the region covered by this website. The distances are only approximate - different authorities give distances that can vary by several miles.
The sum of the distances listed is 2921.5 km (1826 miles).
| Name | Length | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxon Shore Way | 267 km (163 miles) | Gravesend | Hastings |
| North Downs Way | 250 km (156 miles) | Farnham | Dover |
| London Loop | 232 km (144 miles) | Erith | Purfleet |
| Sussex Border Path | 216 km (135 miles) | Emsworth (Thorney Island) | Rye |
| Greensand Way | 173 km (107 miles) | Haslemere | Hamstreet (near Ashford) |
| South Downs Way | 160 km (100 miles) | Winchester | Eastbourne |
| High Weald Landscape Trail | 145 km (90 miles) | Horsham | Rye |
| Monarch's Way | 141.5 km (88.5 miles) | Shawford Station | Shoreham-by-Sea (East Breakwater) |
| Wealdway | 131 km (82 miles) | Gravesend | Eastbourne |
| Capital Ring | 116 km (72 miles) | Woolwich | Woolwich |
| Vanguard Way | 106 km (66 miles) | Croydon | Newhaven |
| Serpent Trail | 108 km (64 miles) | Haslemere | Petersfield |
| Sussex Diamond Way | 97 km (60 miles) | Midhurst | Heathfield |
| West Sussex Literary Trail | 88 km (55 miles) | Horsham | Chichester Cathedral |
| Stour Valley Walk | 82 km (51 miles) | Lenham | Pegwell Bay (near Sandwich) |
| Tandridge Border Path | 80 km (50 miles) | Tatsfield | Tatsfield |
| Thames Path | 69 km (43 miles) | Shepperton (Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry) | Thames Barrier, Greenwich |
| Sussex Ouse Valley Way | 67 km (42 miles) | Lower Beeding (near Horsham) | Seaford Bay |
| New Lipchis Way | 61 km (38 miles) | Liphook | West Wittering (East Head) |
| Downs Link | 59 km (37 miles) | St Martha's Hill (near Guildford) | Shoreham-by-Sea |
| Wey-South Path | 58 km (36 miles) | Guildford | Houghton Bridge (near Amberley) |
| Solent Way | 58 km (36 miles) | Southampton | Emsworth Harbour |
| St Swithun's Way | 54 km (34 miles) | Winchester | Farnham |
| Mid Sussex Link | 53 km (33 miles) | East Grinstead | Portslade-by-Sea |
| 1066 Country Walk | 50 km (31 miles) | Pevensey | Rye |