Surrey · United Kingdom
Farnham Circular
Only 1hr from London by train, this is a great 20km/12.5mi little circular walk in Farnham.
Route highlights include:
Mother Ludlam's Cave - A small sandstone cave with historical links to local folklore.
Waverley Abbey - The managed ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery.
Frensham Little Pond - A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) featuring heathland and medieval fish ponds.
Bourne Wood - A working forest frequently used as a film location, notably for the opening battle in Gladiator.
ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
📏 Distance
20.5km/12.7mi
⏱️ Duration
5.5 hours
📈 Elevation
210m/688ft
🗓 Best Season
All year round
ESTIMATED COSTS
🚌 Transfers
~15-25 GBP
The Route
⚠️ The maps provided on this website are intended as a general guide only. Conditions, routes, and features may change at any time. Always rely on your own judgement and seek local or professional advice if possible.
🧭 Navigation Tips
Download offline maps before you go - cell signal is unreliable.
Be familiar with key safety locations and emergency shelters in case you need to bail part way.
Check weather and trail conditions before starting.
Getting to the Trail Head
🚂 Train
The are frequent trains operated by Southern Railway which leave every 30 minutes from London terminals. The most economical way to travel is to buy a off-peak day return journey.
~15-25 GBP · 1 hour
🚎 Transfer Tips
Tickets vary quite a bit depending on the time and route.
Railcards can provide up to 30% off the tickets during off-peak hours (after 10am on weekdays and all weekend and bank holidays).
The network railcard is valid for this journey.
If you are travelling as a group, consider getting a Daysave Group Off-Peak ticket which gives you unlimited travel on Southern Railway trains. Tickets for 3-4 adults costs 52 GBP and must be bought at least 3 days in advance.
You can purchase train tickets directly from train operators or via third party apps such as trainline which have slightly better interfaces. Please note that these apps do charge a small booking/handling fee.
Food Options
🥐 The Barley Mow Tilford
A traditional village pub in Tilford, offering a relaxed atmosphere and classic British pub food. Expect hearty dishes, burgers, sandwiches, light bites and a good selection of beers, wines and other drink.
20-30 GBP
☕ Little Latte Tilford
A cosy village café serving freshly brewed coffee, homemade cakes, pastries and a selection of light breakfast and lunch options.
5-10 GBP
☕ Tern Café, Frensham Little Pond
A great little lakeside café run by the national trust located right next to the Frensham Little Pond. Offers light bites like sandwiches and cakes, hot drinks and ice cream.
1-10 GBP
Getting Home
🚂 Train
The are frequent trains operated by Southern Railway which leave every 30 minutes from Farnham train station. Ideally, you would have bought a return journey.
15-25 GBP · 1 hour
Not sure on what to bring?
The complete
hiking kit list
Everything you need to pack — from blister-prevention basics to gear that's keeps you safe and comfortable on the trail.
Terms of Use
A quick but important note for all visitors: we do our best to share high-quality, accurate information, but it’s always possible that we’ve missed something or that conditions have changed. All GPS tracks (GPX files and maps) and route suggestions are meant to be used as general guidelines—not exact instructions.
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