Guildford

Rolling chalk hills rise dramatically from the Surrey plains, creating a landscape that feels surprisingly wild despite sitting 30 miles from central London. This is proper Surrey Hills territory - where the North Downs stretch their legs and offer some of the finest walking country in the South East.

Guildford itself sits at the heart of it all, a proper county town with a cathedral that dominates the skyline and a high street that actually has life in it. The Guildford Story Trail winds through the historic core, telling tales of pilgrims and merchants who've passed this way for centuries. But honestly, it's what lies beyond the town that makes this area special.

Stoke Hill and Jordan Hill provide cracking viewpoints across the Surrey countryside, while Perry Hill and the wonderfully named Strawberry Hill offer gentler climbs for families. The landscape here is all about those rolling downs - beech woods clothing the slopes, chalk paths threading between them.

Out towards Bisley, things get more sombre. The war memorial there serves as a reminder of the area's military connections, while the Cross of Sacrifice and Stone of Remembrance speak to deeper histories. It's a landscape layered with stories.

Getting here couldn't be easier - Guildford sits right on the A3, with regular trains from London Waterloo taking just 40 minutes. The surrounding villages like Normandy and Tilford are perfect for exploring by bike or on foot, with footpaths radiating out from almost every hamlet.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're ideally placed for tackling the Surrey Hills properly, whether that's serious hiking on Cobbett Hill or gentler rambles around Standing Hill. Plus you avoid the eye-watering parking charges that Guildford town centre demands.