Play Hill

The walk up Play Hill takes about twenty minutes if you're moving steadily, and it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. Not a peak that'll stop you dead with a view, but the surrounding woodland of the Surrey Hills does proper lovely work framing things once you're up there. On a clear day you get a decent sense of the terrain rolling away towards Guildford.

It's the sort of place walkers string together with other bits of the Hills - you're not coming here alone, you're doing it as part of a longer route. Families with kids who are used to country walks will find it manageable, though there's nothing at the top to justify dragging reluctant teenagers up here specifically.

Free to visit, naturally. Allow an hour if you're making it a deliberate stop, longer if you're linking it into a wider circuit. Spring and autumn work best - summer can feel a bit clogged with bracken, and winter muddy. The nearby Chapel Farm Park is worth considering if you want a decent quality base - it punches above its weight for the area with solid facilities. Wyldecrest Surrey Hills is the other option, though the ratings suggest Chapel Farm edges it out.

Play Hill works best as part of a proper day out exploring the Hills rather than a standalone destination. It's got something to offer if you're already in the area, but it's not the sort of summit you'd plan a trip around.