Scenic rural day trips from London

By CW Contributor on 2/7/2020

With lockdown restrictions eased, many of us are desperate to swap our familiar walk around our nearest bit of green space for rural idylls we can reach by car.
Hotels and Airbnbs are booking up fast, but overnight stays aren't always necessary when there’s plenty of rugged countryside waiting to be explored just outside the city. We round up some of the loveliest rural day trips you can take from London, without spending all day travelling. Picnic hamper at the ready...

Box Hill, Surrey

Perfect for family walks and soaking up soul-soothing vistas, Box Hill is one of the highest points in Surrey and forms part of the North Downs. A great introduction to the Surrey Hills, Box Hill feels a very long way from the smog of the city with its rolling hills of the Downs stretching into the distance. There are plenty of walks of varying length and effort level – visit the National Trust website in advance to find one that’s appropriate for your gaggle.

Box Hill is also a great place to introduce little ones to local wildlife. Between its nodding cowslips in spring – the county flower of Surrey – and its resident Adonis blue butterfly, the chal land habitat of Box Hill is home for thousands of plants and animals.

Those craving a longer walk could begin at Box Hill and venture out further to Headley Heath, a little over an hour away on foot. The walk will take you through a mix of heathland, woodland and chalk downland, while the sing-song of birds – woodlarks, linnets and meadow pipits among them – will provide the soundtrack to your journey.

Car parks at Box Hill remain open and there’s no need to pre-book a space, but facilities including toilets, cafés and the on-site shop are closed for now.

Distance: Around 1hr by car from London

The Chilterns

Spanning four different counties (Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire), the Chilterns is an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) with plenty to explore on foot, by bike and even with a buggy in tow. This Home Counties hideaway combines wild woodland with dramatic open vistas, punctuated by quaint villages and a surprisingly prestigious history (John Milton, Agatha Christie and Rupert Brooke are among the area's famous inhabitants). Now, the most exciting Chiltern local is the once almost extinct red kite (pictured).

While many of its main attractions – museums and Michelin-starred pubs among them – remain closed for now, the Chilterns offers a slice of rural escapism just an hour’s drive northwest of London.

Check out the Chilterns Conservation Board website for specific walks – the site boasts a handy interactive map – or park up and amble at your leisure before setting up a picnic. As well as the famed red kite, look out for the silver-spotted skipper butterfly, spotted between June and September.

Distance: Around 1hr by car from London

Epping Forest, Essex

Once a royal hunting ground, Epping Forest is today known as the people’s forest and is the largest public open space in London. Its 6,000 acres of natural woodland, sandwiched between Epping and London, offer ample opportunity for secluded walks – and when the weather’s hot, its shady glades provide much-needed respite from the rays of the sun.

Epping Forest’s main tourist attractions such as the District Museum, the Royal Gunpowder Mills and Epping Ongar Railway, remain closed for now, but there’s plenty to explore within its 50 distinct areas of woodland, grassland and other habitats. With the visitor centres also closed, it’s worth checking the Visit Epping Forest website for maps and routes before heading out.

Popular landmarks include: the Iron Age Ambresbury Banks monument, the ancient pollard wood Barn Hoppitt, the scenic ponds of Blackweir Hill, Chingford Plain (where lush grasslands and shaded woodlands meet), and the Connaught Water lake.

Distance: Around 1hr by car from London

The River Wey at Guildford, Surrey

Hoping to take a cooling dip on your day out? London’s pools and ponds are likely to remain closed for the foreseeable, but there’s nothing to stop you going wild swimming, so long as you keep a safe distance from others doing the same. Head to Chilworth, from where you can walk the eight-mile stretch to Guilford, passing pretty villages before joining the Wey Navigation, where there are several recognised spots for swimming in the River Wey. The first comes just beyond the Manor Inn (look out for a small sandy beach). The main one, though, is closer to Guildford; here you’ll find a larger beach and steep, sandy bank. If both appear busy, you might prefer to strip off and jump in elsewhere along the trail.

There are plenty of other walks you can take from Chilworth if you don’t fancy swimming. A favourite of ours is the 8km stretch that takes you up past wildflowers and woodland to the historic St Martha’s Church. The church is closed to visitors for now, but from here you can enjoy a picnic overlooking vistas of Surrey's rolling hills.

Distance: Around 1hr by car from London

Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire

Ivinghoe Beacon sits within the aforementioned Chilterns, but as the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers such a wide expanse, this nearby landmark – easily reachable from London and a popular destination for school trips – makes for a great family outing. Straddling a wealth of history, Ivinghoe Beacon is crowned by the site of an Iron Age fort, while Bronze Age burial mounds are dotted around the area.

If you’re walking with little ones, read up on the area’s history beforehand, so you can teach them facts about its landmarks as you pass them. Perched at the end of the Ridgeway National Trail, Ivinghoe Beacon is also great for nature enthusiasts – look out for rare orchids and butterflies along the way. And while not the highest point on the Ashridge Estate, the area offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Distance: Just over 1hr by car from London

Camber Sands, East Sussex

A little further in the car (roughly two hours from London) but worth the extra miles, Camber Sands is a rugged paradise of sweeping sands stretching as far as the eye can see. Just 10 minutes outside the picturesque town of Rye (typically a tourist hotspot but largely shuttered because of the virus), the area is a seven-mile long stretch of golden sands bordered by wild, grass-dotted sand dunes.

Those craving the adrenaline rush of a freezing-cold sea swim can get their fix here – just make sure you familiarise yourself with the safety flags first, bear in mind that there are currently no lifeguards and check the tides – or you could be walking a very long way to get your swim. While disposable barbecues are a no-no, day trippers can upgrade their picnic with a gas-powered, portable barbecue if they set up camp on Camber Beach. And it’s good new for dog owners: your four-legged friends are welcome to scamper across certain areas of the sands with you.

Thanks to its sheer expanse, Camber Sands makes for a great day trip in the age of social distancing. Even on sunny weekends, it’s easy to maintain a safe distance from other walkers and picnic parties.

Distance: Around 2 hrs by car from London