Monks Hill

The view from Monks Hill rewards a fairly straightforward walk from Farnham, and on a clear day you can see right across the Surrey Hills. It's not a dramatic peak - more of a proper hike through mixed woodland that opens out at the summit - but that's rather the point. You get the satisfaction of elevation gain without needing climbing gear or a full day's commitment.

Walkers will find the ascent manageable, though it's steep enough in sections that you'll feel it in your legs. The path is well-trodden and reasonably clear, though muddy stretches aren't uncommon after rain. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip from Farnham town centre, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. There's something rather meditative about reaching the summit and watching the landscape roll away - all those fields and distant woods. Families with older children will manage fine; younger ones might find the climb tedious without stops for snacks and encouragement.

If you're basing yourself at Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat, just 1.7 miles away, you've got easy access to this walk without hours of driving. It works equally well as a morning jaunt before exploring the quieter corners around Chapel Farm Park or Little Cowdraw Farm. The attraction is free - it's an open countryside walk - and you can start whenever suits you. Early morning gives you the best light and the fewest other people on the path. Worth doing once you're in the area; perhaps not worth planning an entire trip around, but a solid piece of Surrey walking.