North Downs Way Transport Links
Welcome to our comprehensive guide to transport links along the North Downs Way National Trail. Navigating your way to and from the trail has never been easier, thanks to our detailed information on transportation options available at each route section. Whether you’re arriving by train, bus, car, or bike, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to plan your journey seamlessly.
Farnham
Train Stations: Farnham Train Station conveniently provides direct connections to London Waterloo and other major stations across the South East. From the station, it’s just a short 5 minute walk to the trailhead, allowing you to start your North Downs Way adventure.
Car Parks: Right next to Farnham Station is a pay and display car park. This is a great option if you’re arriving by car as you can get the train back to Farnham Station before driving home.
Buses: Explore Farnham and its surrounding areas with local bus services offering convenient routes and stops. Whether you’re heading to nearby villages or attractions, buses provide a reliable and affordable way to access the trail and other points of interest. See the local bus timetable for the latest travel information to make sure delays and cancellations don’t leave you stranded.
Guildford
Train Stations: Both train stations in Guildford are actually quite far from the official start point of the Guildford to Gomshall section of the North Downs Way. The main station is Guildford Railway Station which is a 28 minute walk to the start. Alternatively you can walk from the London Road Station in Guildford which takes slightly longer at 34 minutes to reach the trailhead.
Car Parks: Both stations in Guildford feature pay and display car parks although they aren’t necessarily the closest to the route start. The closest car park to this section’s start is Shalford Park car park on Shalford Road or alternatively Chantries Car Park a bit further up Pilgrim’s Way.
Buses: The Pilgrim’s Way bus stop is the closest stop to for this section of the North Downs Way. You can find a variety of buses from central Guildford that stop here.
Gomshall
Train Stations: The only option is Gomshall Station, which is located around 30mins away from the trailhead. This is because the North Downs Way doesn’t directly pass through Gomshall and so requires some walking to reach this section’s start just up Beggar’s Lane. While Gomshall itself is a lovely village well worth exploring, the trains here are fairly infrequent so planning ahead is definitely advised.
Car Parks: If you’re accessing the trailhead by car then your best choice is the pay and display car park right next to Gomshall Station.
Buses: If accessing Gomshall via bus then one of the best routes is to take the 25 from central Guildford. At the same time make sure to check the bus timetable before travelling in the event of changes or delays.
Westhumble/Box Hill
Train Stations: The closest station for this section of the North Downs Way is Box Hill & Westhumble Train Station. The station is a short 10 minute walk to the trailhead down towards the A24. Alternatively you can get the train to Dorking (Main) Station and walk up the A24 to this section’s start point, this takes just under 20 minutes so is slightly longer.
Car Parks: One option is to park at the small car park next to the Box Hill & Westhumble Train Station. Parking here is free providing that you’re using rail transport at some point in the day (a good option is to park here and get the train back from Merstham station). Another option is the Stepping Stones car park just across the A24. from here you can immediately start the next section of the North Downs Way, Westhumble to Merstham with your ascent of Box Hill. Pay and display car parks are also located at Dorking (Main) Station although this can be a bit expensive.
Buses: A variety of buses run into Dorking. From Dorking (Main) Station it’s around 20 minutes to reach the trailhead. For the most up to date information on buses to Dorking see the bus timetable.
Merstham
Train Stations: Merstham Train Station is only a short 5 minute walk from the Merstham to Oxted section of the North Downs Way. To get to this section’s start head directly towards Merstham Cricket Club, you’ll see a metal North Downs Way marker just before their grounds.
Car Parks: There is a car park right next to Merstham Train Station although you’ll have to pay to leave your car here. Large areas surrounding Merstham are residential so you could also try your luck (although most areas near the start point likely require resident’s permits).
Oxted
Train Stations: Oxted Train Station is the nearest stop for this section of the route. It’s a fair distance getting from here to the trailhead as you have to walk back up to the downs and cross the m25. At the same time, you get some lovely views of Oxted and the surrounding areas as you make the climb back onto the route. If travelling by train it’s best to expect an additional mile of walking in total to account for sections from Oxted.
Car Parks: There’s no shortage of parking around Oxted Train Station although you’ll have to pay for the day. A better solution is to look out for some of the residential areas around Oxted Park as this will reduce the distance to the start point. Most of these areas have restrictions between 9 and 9:30 am but you so you should be fine provided you start the hike in the late morning.
Otford
Train Stations: A section of the North Downs Way begins/ends very conveniently right next to Otford Train Station, making this one of the most accessible start points along the route. At the same time, there are no direct trains between Oxted and Otford which makes getting back quite tedious (likely having to go into London to change).
Car Parks: The car park next to Otford Station is easily the closest option for those looking to drive up. If you want to grab some food or a coffee before you can also go to one of the car parks on Otford High Street as those are much closer to the shops and local amenities.