Hawk's Hill

From the car park near Leatherhead, a twenty-minute scramble up through beech woods brings you to one of Surrey's best-kept secrets. Hawk's Hill rises 220 metres above the Mole Valley, delivering proper views across the North Downs without the crowds that plague Box Hill.

The summit itself is nothing fancy - just a clearing with a bench and a trig point. But the panorama stretches from Dorking in the south to the London sprawl in the north, with the River Mole snaking silver through farmland far below. On clear days you can spot the Shard glinting on the horizon.

Walkers will love the variety of routes up - you can tackle it as a quick hour-long leg-stretcher or link it with longer trails through Norbury Park. Families with older children (say, eight-plus) will manage the climb fine, though toddlers might struggle with the steeper sections near the top.

Coming here early morning or late afternoon gives you the best light for photos and fewer dog walkers to navigate around. The woods can be muddy after rain, so proper walking boots are worth bringing.

If you're staying at one of the nearby camping spots like Embers Camping near Polesden Lacey, Hawk's Hill makes an excellent first-morning walk to get your bearings on the Surrey Hills. Much quieter than the tourist honeypots, and all the better for it.