Cobbett Hill

The walk up Cobbett Hill rewards you with proper views across the Surrey Hills - nothing dramatic, but on a clear day you can see right across to the North Downs. It's a modest peak by most standards, but that's rather the point. No scrambling required, no technical bits, just a steady climb through woodland that takes twenty minutes or so from the car park near Guildford.

This is walker territory, plain and simple. Families with older kids will manage it fine; anyone under eight might find the uphill drag a bit much. History enthusiasts get a mild kick from knowing William Cobbett, the 19th-century political writer and farmer, had strong links to the area - there's a decent view from the top that explains why he'd have found the spot worth his attention.

Free to visit, takes about an hour all in if you're not rushing. Best on a crisp autumn morning when the visibility's best and you've got the place mostly to yourself. Summer weekends can get a bit busy with local dog walkers.

If you're staying at Chapel Farm Park or Wyldecrest Surrey Hills just down the road, this is an obvious morning jaunt before breakfast. Chantry Wood Campsite, five miles out, makes a good base for exploring the wider Surrey Hills too. The walk itself is straightforward enough that you won't need a guide, but decent shoes matter on the muddier sections.