Ridge Hill

The walk up Ridge Hill rewards you with proper views across the Surrey weald - the sort of panorama that makes the climb worth your while. It's not a mountain by any stretch, but on a clear day you can see right across to the South Downs, and the rolling countryside folds out beneath you in waves of green and gold.

From Godalming, it's an accessible hike that takes most people around ninety minutes up and back. The path climbs steadily through woodland before opening onto the ridge itself, where the landscape suddenly opens up. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine, though very small ones might find the ascent a bit much. Walkers will love it - the views genuinely are something special, particularly in autumn when the trees turn.

There's nothing much at the top itself - no cafe, no visitor centre, just the view and the wind. That's rather the point. You're paying for the effort, not the facilities.

If you're staying at Little Cowdray Farm Glamping nearby, Ridge Hill makes an excellent morning or afternoon outing. It's close enough that you won't spend half your day driving, but far enough that it feels like a proper day out rather than a stroll round the back garden. Go early on weekends to dodge the crowds. The ridge path can get busy with Sunday walkers, and once a few dozen people arrive, the peace goes.