Cranleigh

Rolling heathland gives way to dense woodland around every corner here, making this Surrey market town feel properly rural despite being just an hour from London. Cranleigh sits in a pocket of the Surrey Hills where ancient commons meet working farmland, and the whole area has that timeless quality you get in proper English countryside.

The Crafty Brewing Company has put the town on the map for beer lovers, turning out excellent ales in converted farm buildings. It's the sort of place where locals gather on Friday evenings and weekend cyclists stop for a proper pint after tackling the Surrey Hills. The surrounding landscape is a walker's paradise - Durfold Wood and Tugley Wood offer miles of bridleways and footpaths, while smaller copses like Sketchers and Birchfold provide shorter rambles through ancient woodland.

History buffs should seek out the Canadian War Memorial and the Camp embankment visible on aerial photos - remnants of the area's wartime past when Canadian forces trained on these commons. More recent history lives at the Dunsfold Collection, a private museum that's worth a look if you can arrange a visit.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The A281 runs right through town, connecting to Guildford in the north and Horsham to the south. No railway station, mind you - this isn't commuter belt Surrey. That's rather the point.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. Sumners Ponds Fishery & Campsite offers proper countryside camping with fishing thrown in, while Care Ashore Campsite on the Springbok Estate puts you right in the heart of the Surrey Hills. You're well placed for exploring the wider area - the South Downs are a short drive south, and you can reach the wilder parts of Surrey's heathland without fighting through suburban sprawl.