Private Guildford, Surrey Hills & Pilgrim's Way Hike, London

Escape the city for a day of hiking among the famous chalk downs of the Surrey Hills National Landscape. With the help of a private guide, you'll hop a quick train from Waterloo Station to Guildford, where you'll set off on a scenic 11-mile loop. Cross meadows, heath, and old-growth woodland, linking up with the ancient Pilgrims' Way as you explore historic ruins, climb to hilltop churches, and pause at scenic lookout points. Perfect for both casual and experienced walkers, this is a perfect way to experience a slice of bucolic English countryside within easy reach of the capital.

Lace up your best walking shoes, grab some breakfast, and meet your private guide at Waterloo Station, where you'll board a quick 35-minute train to Guildford. Located just 30 miles (48 km) southwest of London, this historic riverside market town is watched over by the remains of a hilltop Norman castle. It also serves as a gateway to the Surrey Hills National Landscape, a walker's paradise surrounded by the chalk slopes of the North Downs and crisscrossed by countless walking tracks and historic sites.

Led by your accredited guide, today's walk takes you on an 11-mile (17 km) loop encompassing undulating trails, woodland, and heath, with easy terrain suitable for even the most casual hiker. It starts along the historic towpath lining the River Wey, before a steady ascent takes you to the romantic 14th-century ruins of St Catherine's Chapel, a spot so scenic that it was a favorite subject of JMW Turner's watercolors. Link up with the Pilgrims' Way for the next stretch of the route, skirting meadows, crossing fields, and following quiet roadways as you learn how this ancient trackway has been used since the Stone Age.

The landscape shifts again as you enter a stretch of beech woodland before winding your way up to St Martha's Hill, considered one of the region's most spectacular beauty spots. A church has sat on this hilltop since the 12th century, and the views from its summit stretch as far as the South Downs. Continue across open meadows to Newlands Corner, a nature reserve where you'll stop for your packed lunch (not included). As you loop back into Guildford, you'll end the five-hour hike with a wander through the grounds of Guildford Castle before heading back to the station to catch a return train to Waterloo.