Ether Hill

The highest point in Surrey at just 294 metres, Ether Hill is one of those peaks you climb more for the satisfaction of ticking it off than for breathtaking vistas. It sits near Chertsey, accessible via a straightforward walk through woodland that takes the better part of an hour depending on your starting point.

What you get up there is honest rather than dramatic - views across the Surrey Hills that stretch toward Sussex on a clear day, though the surrounding trees mean you're never fully open to the landscape. On grey days, frankly, the payoff feels a bit thin. That said, the walk itself is pleasant enough, with proper forest paths and a genuine sense of achievement when you reach the trig point marking the summit.

This appeals most to walkers completing the county peaks checklist and families wanting a straightforward leg-stretcher that doesn't demand serious fitness. You won't need climbing gear or fell-walking boots - just decent trainers and about two hours spare. The walk is free, obviously, and there's parking near the base if you're coming from Chertsey.

If you're camped at Chertsey Caravan Park or Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the road, it makes a solid half-day outing before returning for tea. Worth the walk? Yes, but manage your expectations - this is Surrey, not the Lake District. The surrounding woodland and moderate incline make it a cracking alternative to busy tourist spots, particularly if you time it for a weekday when the paths are yours alone.