Moat Pond

You'll find Moat Pond just outside Godalming, a proper slice of Surrey countryside that most visitors miss entirely. It's a small, tranquil body of water with a bit of history attached - the moat itself is medieval, remnants of a long-vanished fortification - but honestly, what matters is the walk itself and the peace you'll find there.

The pond sits in gentle woodland, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's not dramatic or Instagram-worthy, but that's rather the point. Families with young children will manage it easily enough, and walkers exploring the Godalming area will find it a sensible detour on a longer route through the Surrey commons and heaths. The terrain is flat and accessible, though it can get muddy after rain.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which keeps the place refreshingly uncommercial. Allow 30 minutes to an hour depending on whether you're just passing through or sitting about with a flask. Go on a weekday morning if you want solitude, though weekends bring local dog walkers and families.

If you're based at Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat or Little Cowdray Farm Glamping nearby, both within a couple of miles, Moat Pond works nicely as a morning potter before heading into Godalming proper for lunch. It won't knock your socks off, but it's a genuine piece of local Surrey and worth the short walk from the car park.