London: Books of shorter country walks

The following books each contain a selection of relatively short and usually circular walks in greater London, generally of a more rural character, making use of the larger parks and open spaces within the city and the countryside on the urban fringe. Some also contain countryside walks just outside the Greater London boundary but within easy reach of central London.

• 25 Walks in and around London by Andrew McCloy, ISBN 0 11 495797 5. Interesting selection, all around 8km/5 miles. Stationery Office £8.99.
• 50 Walks in London by Deborah King, ISBN 0 7495 3340 4. Imaginative selection of mainly shorter walks (2km/1 mile to 18km/11 miles, but most under 6.5km/4 miles), both rural and urban and mostly from tube or rail stations. AA £7.99. [2003]
• Country Walks Around London by Geoff Garvey and Leigh Hatts, ISBN 1 85158 968 6. 26 walks from 3km/2 miles to 18.5km/11.5 miles. Mainstream £7.99.
• Discovering Country Walks in North London by Merry Lundow, ISBN 0 74780 265 3. Shire £3.95.
• Discovering Offbeat Walks in London by John Wittich, ISBN 0 74780 263 7. Shire £4.99.
• Enfield Footpath Map with walk suggestions, including easy walks. £1.50 from Enfield Preservation Society, 2 Parsonage Lane, Enfield EN2 0AJ, tel 020 8363 9495.
• Family Walks in West London, ISBN 907758 72 X. Scarthin £5.95. For more books of family walks, click here.
• Jarrold Short Walks: North London, ISBN 0 7117 2090 8, and South London, ISBN 0 7117 2091 6, both by Leigh Hatts, Jarrold £5.99.
  Compact guides with very varied walks in both rural and urban surrounds and OS mapping, designed to be suitable for all ages including children with points of interest highlighted, all accessible by public transport. Each has twenty walks, 3km/2 miles to 8km/5 miles. [2002]
• National Trust Walks In and Around London by Peter Wenham, ISBN 0 7078 0319 5. National Trust £9.99.
  Good selection of 24 walks, mainly visiting National Trust properties, including the Thames Path in central London and walks through countryside and open spaces mainly in London but with some in the countryside outside it, from Dedham Vale to Dorking. Circular and linear walks, many with flexible options giving lengths of 2.5km/1.5 miles to 25.5km/16 miles, all with public transport information and notes on nature and heritage. [2003]
• Pathfinder Guide: In and around London Walks by Brian Conduit, ISBN 0 7117 1055 4. Jarrold £10.99. Urban, suburban and genuinely rural walks, mainly within Greater London with some just outside the boundary. 28 graded walks from 4km/2.5 miles to 14km/8.5 miles, with good public transport and OS Explorer map extracts [2005]
• Pub Strolls in Middlesex & West London by David and Rosemary Hall, ISBN 1 85306 728 8. 30 short walks. Countryside Books £7.95.
• Pub Walks in North London by Leigh Hatts, 1 85306 427 0. 20 easy walks based on pubs, 2.5km/1.5 miles to 8km/5 miles. Countryside Books £5.95.
• Pub Walks in South London by Leigh Hatts, 1 85306 659 1. Countryside Books £6.95.
• The Rough Guide to Walks in London and southeast England by Judith Bamber and Helena Smith, ISBN 1 85828 938 6. Rough Guides £9.99
  35 very varied walks, all graded and with public transport connections, from 5 to 20km, including some weekend walks, both within greater London and in the countryside within easy reach, from the Chilterns to the south coast, clearly described and mapped.
• Rural Walks in Richmond by Richmond Group of the Ramblers' Association. 21 walks in this attractive borough, including some suitable for wheelchairs. Click here for more details.
• Short walks from pubs in Middlesex & West London by David and Rosemary Hall, ISBN 1 85306 221 9. 20 walks, Countryside Books £5.95.
• Time Out Book of Country Walks, ISBN 0 14026 544 9. Penguin, £10.99. Walks in outer London and just outside but within easy reach by train.
  See also the Time Out London Walks book under urban books for some parkland and lengthy off-road walks.
• Travelcard Walks in West London by Margaret Sharp, ISBN 1 84018 312 8. 25 riverside, parkland and country walks around 8km/5 miles. Mainstream £7.99.
• Village Walks in Middlesex & West London by David and Rosemary Hall, ISBN 1 85306 528 5. 20 walks, Countryside Books £6.95.
• Walking London's Docks, Rivers & Canals by Gilly Cameron-Cooper, ISBN 1 84330 902 5. New Holland £12.99.
  22 very varied walks 4km/2.5 miles to 15km/9 miles, many under 8km/5 miles, mainly linear with public transport connections. Covers a wide range of waterways, not only the Thames, Grand Union and Regents Canals and Lea Navigation but Docklands and rivers like the Wandle and Brent.
• Walks in the Country near London by Christopher Somerville, ISBN 1 84330 121 0. New Holland £12.99. 25 walks from 9.5km/6 miles to 24km/15 miles, not in London itself but the countryside just outside it, and within an hour's travel, all with public transport connections.
• Waterside Walks in Middlesex & West London by David and Rosemary Hall, ISBN 1 85306 629 X. 20 walks, 5.5km/3.5 miles to 11km/7 miles. Countryside Books £6.95.

See also

• Paths and routes in London
• Urban walks books
• Other useful publications
• Obtaining publications.