Scragley Hill

The walk up Scragley Hill from Guildford takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a steady pace, and the views across the Surrey Weald make it time well spent. It's not a proper mountain - more a decent woodland climb through beech and oak - but once you reach the top the landscape opens out nicely, rolling hills stretching away toward the South Downs.

The peak itself is modest, nothing dramatic, but that's rather the point. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it without complaint. The paths are well-trodden and fairly clear, though muddy stretches are guaranteed after rain. Allow two hours there and back if you're taking it easy and stopping for photos. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekends when Guildford walkers descend in numbers.

It works brilliantly as part of a longer ramble through the Surrey Hills rather than a destination in itself. If you're staying at Chapel Farm Park or Wyldecrest Surrey Hills nearby, this makes an easy morning's outing before heading elsewhere. The hill isn't marked as a formal attraction - no visitor centre, no facilities at the top - so bring water and expect to navigate by instinct once you're off the main trails.

Worth the trip? Yes, if you're in the area and enjoy straightforward woodland walking. Don't expect Himalayan drama, but the quiet woodland and honest Surrey views have their own appeal. On a clear day you can see right across to the North Downs.