Merrow Downs

The Downs themselves are worth the trip if you're camping nearby - a proper stretch of woodland just outside Guildford that feels genuinely wild for Surrey. You get mature beech and oak, decent footpaths, and enough space to actually lose the weekend crowds. The terrain rises and falls enough to keep it interesting without being exhausting, and on a clear day the views back towards the North Downs aren't bad at all.

Walkers will get the most from it. Families with younger kids might find it a bit samey after an hour or so, since it's mainly forest rather than dramatic viewpoints or clearings with facilities. There's no visitor centre or café, so bring your own supplies. Allow a couple of hours for a proper wander; you can do it shorter if you just want to stretch your legs after driving down from London.

The access is straightforward and free - it's open access woodland. Best visited in autumn when the beech turns, or spring when the forest floor clears out. Summer can be muggy and thick with midges in the damper sections.

If you're based at Chantry Wood just 1.8 miles away, or Edgeley or Hammonds at 3 miles, Merrow Downs makes a solid half-day addition to a camping holiday. Pair it with a walk around Guildford's riverside if you want something with a bit more going on. It's honest woodland - not Instagram-famous, just genuinely pleasant.