Hydon's Ball

The walk up Hydon's Ball rewards you with proper views across the Weald - it's one of those Surrey hilltops that catches you off guard with how far you can actually see. The peak itself isn't dramatic: you're talking about 600-odd metres up, with an open grassy summit and a few scattered trees. On a clear day you'll spot the South Downs rolling away in the distance, which beats staring at commuter traffic around Guildford.

Walkers get the most from this one. The approach is straightforward enough from the surrounding paths, though legs will feel it on the way back down if you're not used to the incline. The terrain underfoot varies between woodland and open grassland, and in spring the whole area blooms with bluebells - genuinely worth timing a visit around. Plan ninety minutes to two hours for the round trip depending on your pace, though you can extend it by linking into the wider footpath network around Godalming if you've got the energy.

There's no charge to walk it, which is always welcome. If you're staying at one of the local campsites - Firesyde is closest at under two miles away, or Chantry Wood Campsite sits five miles out - this makes an obvious morning excursion or afternoon stretch of the legs. It's not a full day out on its own, but paired with a woodland wander or a pub lunch back in Guildford, it slots into a park holiday nicely. Worth doing on a decent weather day rather than grey drizzle.