Dorking

The railway line cuts through Surrey's rolling hills like a green ribbon, bringing London commuters to one of the South East's most underrated market towns. Dorking sits snugly in the Mole Gap, where the River Mole has carved its way through the North Downs over millennia, creating a landscape that's proper Surrey - all wooded slopes and chalky ridges.

Walk five minutes from the high street and you're deep in ancient woodland. Gibbs Bottom and Mill Bottom offer cracking walks through beech and oak, while the smaller copses - Ryfield, Birchy, and Lodge - thread between fields like green fingers. It's a walker's paradise, really.

Dorking Brewery deserves your attention too. Their ales are spot-on, and the taproom has that lived-in feel you want from a local brewery. The town itself has character - independent shops, decent pubs, and none of that chain store sterility you get elsewhere.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Holmwood station connects you to London in 45 minutes, while the A24 brings drivers down from the capital through some lovely Surrey countryside. Guildford's only 20 minutes north if you need bigger shops or restaurants.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're right in the Surrey Hills National Landscape, with Polesden Lacey just up the road and Box Hill a short drive away. The glamping options around here - Surrey Hills Yurts, Cowroom Glamping - put you properly in the countryside while keeping Dorking's amenities within easy reach. Plus you can walk straight into those woodland copses from most sites without touching tarmac.