National Trust - River Wey & Godalming Navigations

The River Wey and Godalming Navigations are a pair of connected waterways that run through Surrey - proper English canal country, though less crowded than the Grand Union. You can walk the towpaths for miles, rent a boat if you fancy it, or just sit by the water with a coffee and watch the narrowboats slide past. The Navigations connect Addlestone through to Godalming, passing through some genuinely lovely stretches of countryside that don't feel touristy at all.

This is brilliant territory for walkers. The towpath is flat, well-maintained, and you can dip in and out as you please - do a mile or do ten, depending on what you're after. If you've got kids, they'll enjoy spotting wildlife along the banks and watching the lock systems work. History types will appreciate that these waterways date back to the 1650s, though they've been restored and maintained by the National Trust.

The real draw is the sheer peacefulness of it. Unlike some of the busier canal routes down south, you can walk for stretches and barely see another soul. The water reflects the sky, and there's something genuinely restorative about it.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Weybridge Park Estates is closest at under a mile - you've got easy access to proper walking without needing to drive anywhere. Allow a couple of hours for a decent stretch, or half an afternoon if you want to potter about. Free to walk the paths. Best visited outside school holidays if you want some quiet.