One of my favourite ways to spend a weekend is on foot. Whether it’s a sunny summer’s day or a muddy winter’s one, I love nothing more than lacing up my trail shoes and getting out into the countryside. I usually follow the South Downs Way, as it’s easy to follow without the need for a map or instructions. But there are only so many times you can walk from Amberley to Washington and back again.
That’s why I decided to follow a guided walk using the Go Jauntly app. All I had to do was choose a route and follow it on my phone. No second-guessing whether I’d gone the wrong way, and no hesitating when the footpath split in front of me.
I chose a walk starting from East Grinstead station. Less than an hour direct from London Victoria, East Grinstead is the perfect place to escape the city and feel like you’re completely immersed in nature. Regular trains connect this West Sussex town not just to the capital but to towns across Surrey, Sussex and Kent, which makes it an easy choice for a spontaneous countryside day trip. Step off the train, lace up your boots, and you’re ready to go.
The walk I chose starts right at the station and follows residential roads for the first few minutes, but very soon the driveways and neat gardens melted into open countryside and spectacular views. The first landmark that catches your eye is Imberhorne Viaduct, an impressive stretch of red brick arches cutting across the valley. If you’re lucky, like I was, you’ll catch the Bluebell Heritage Railway steaming across the top. It’s a real moment of theatre: smoke puffing into the sky, a rhythmic chug, and the unmistakable whistle of a classic steam train echoing into the distance.
From there, the path takes you through hedgerows into open fields. The freedom of not following written instructions or worrying about missing a gate hidden behind a tree meant I could really pay attention to what was around me: the scratch of a squirrel in a tree overhead, the shade of the trees, the sweet melody of birdsong.
The beauty of this corner of Sussex lies in its variety. Ploughed fields lead into incredible wildflower meadows, which then give way to shaded woodland. It’s not a demanding walk, more undulating than hilly, but enough to feel like a real stretch of the legs. At one point I stopped at the edge of a meadow and realised I hadn’t seen another person in over an hour, and I was only accompanied by the birds and distant rumble of the steam train.
Several times the paths split, and I know that I would have gone the wrong way. But the Go Jauntly app kept me on track. That confidence changed the walk completely. Instead of worrying that I had gone the wrong way and would have to re-trace my steps, I could really enjoy the walk and the sense of freedom.
After ambling through fields, meadows and woodland, the final stretch returns you towards the station on a ‘metalled track’, a surfaced lane that doesn’t get too muddy in winter. It felt like the countryside’s version of a red carpet, an easy straight line back to where I started.
If you have time before heading home, it’s worth making the most of your day out. A five-minute walk from East Grinstead station is The Railway, a lively freehouse with local ales and pub food that tastes even better after a few miles on foot. It’s the kind of stop that makes a day out feel complete: drink in hand, train ticket tucked safely in your pocket, and the satisfaction of having discovered a stretch of countryside that felt like it belonged to you alone.
East Grinstead isn’t as well-known for walking as the South Downs or North Downs Way, but that’s exactly the charm. It’s a gateway to quiet landscapes, heritage railways and endless views, without the crowds. From London or anywhere in the South East, Southern Railway brings you here in under an hour, and the countryside takes care of the rest.
Sometimes the best journeys don’t start with a boarding pass or a suitcase. They start with a simple decision: step off the train, pick a path, and just walk.