London Countryway
346 km / 215 miles
Bucks, Essex, Herts, Kent, Surrey, Thurrock, Windsor M
A circular route published originally in the 1970s long before the two current 'official' orbital routes were established, it formed an 'outer orbital' for walkers around London out beyond them. The route description is not up to date and there have been significant developments since but it could be useful as a starting point for walkers planning their own, similar, route around the capital, perhaps after completing the inner orbitals. There are many public transport links using radial services from central London.
The Countryway is a complete circuit around Greater London, between 13 to 31 miles from the centre and coming to within 1 mile of the boundary at the closest. The Countryway goes over the woodlands and heathlands of Surrey and Berkshire (the former county), then along canal towpaths to Windsor, from where the river Thames is followed to Maidenhead and Marlow. Here it turns to the Chiltern hills to West Wycombe and Great Missenden, and then follows a meandering route to Kings Langley, St Albans, Broxbourne, the Lea valley, Epping Forest and Theydon Bois. The route continues to Brentwood, over the Essex fens to cross the Thames via the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry, before heading south and then west along the sandstone and chalk hills of Kent and Surrey.
The author would appreciate offers of help in checking and updating the route description; please see the publication page for contact details. The original book is out of print but secondhand copies may be obtainable.
Details:
| Path Type: | Other Paths |
| Attributes: | River; Canal; Heath; Downland/Wolds |
| Start and Finish: | TQ173513 - Box Hill, Surrey  |
| Open Date: | 1977 |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Looseleaf: | London Countryway Route Description (Keith Chesterton - 1977) |
| Hardback: | London Countryway (Constable and Robinson Ltd - 1981) |
Maps: |
 |
| Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps: | |
| OS Landranger: | 165, 166, 167, 175, 176, 177, 178, 186, 187, 188 |
| OS Explorer: | 145, 146, 147, 148, 160, 162, 163, 172, 174, 175, 181, 182 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 145, 146, 147, 148, 160, 162, 163, 172, 174, 175, 181, 182 |
Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | Tanners Hatch YHA, off Ranmore Road, Dorking, Surrey | 1 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Holmbury St Mary YHA, Radnor Lane, Dorking, Surrey | 4 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Ramblers' Retreat, Wendover House, Wendover, Bucks | 5 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Lee Valley YHA, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire | < 1 Km |
Connected Paths:
Downloads:
| GPS Exchange Format Route File: | London Countryway GPX Exchange Format Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| MemoryMap Route file: | London Countryway Memory Map Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| Tracklogs Route file: | London Countryway Tracklogs Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
Route Profile:
| 346.2 Km (215.1 miles) 5,276 m (17,310 ft) ascent 248 m (814 ft) maximum height |
 |