St George's Hill

Climbing 171 metres above the Surrey commuter belt, St George's Hill offers proper views across the Thames Valley that'll surprise anyone who thinks Surrey is all suburbs and shopping centres. The summit sits just outside Addlestone, and while it's hardly a mountain, the gentle woodland paths make for a lovely family walk that won't exhaust the kids.

Dog walkers dominate the early morning scene, but families arrive later to explore the network of well-marked trails through mixed woodland. The views from the top stretch across to Windsor Castle on clear days - worth the 30-minute trudge uphill. Ancient earthworks hint at the hill's Iron Age past, though there's precious little signage to explain what you're looking at.

It's free to wander about, naturally, and you can easily spend a couple of hours here if you take the longer circular routes. Spring brings bluebells to the woodland floor, while autumn colours are particularly good along the southern slopes.

Staying at one of the nearby sites like Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club or Walton on Thames makes this a proper easy day out. The hill works well as a morning constitutional before heading into Windsor or Hampton Court - both are close enough for an afternoon visit.