Peaked Hill

The walk up Peaked Hill rewards you with one of Surrey's best views south towards the Weald. It's not a brutal climb - more of a proper leg-stretcher than anything that'll have you gasping - and the summit itself is genuinely worth the effort. You get bracken and heathland underfoot, the kind of open country that reminds you why people bother leaving London at weekends.

The hill sits close enough to Farnham that you can combine it with a wander around town, or slot it into a broader ramble across the Surrey Hills. Allow an hour for the walk itself, though you'll want longer if you're the type to stop and actually look at the view. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might struggle with the steeper sections.

It's free, obviously. No facilities to speak of at the top - bring water. The best light hits it either early morning or late afternoon, when the landscape goes all golden and the haze clears from the distance.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Chapel Farm Park gets decent reviews, and Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat is reckoned to be particularly good - Peaked Hill makes a solid half-day venture. It's the sort of place that feels properly outdoors without requiring full hiking boots or a packed lunch. Pop up, take the view in, head back down. Done.