Leatherhead

Commuters race through on their way to London, but they're missing the point entirely. This Surrey market town sits in a proper sweet spot between the capital's pull and the Surrey Hills' rolling chalk downs. You can be in Waterloo in 45 minutes, yet find yourself walking ancient woodlands within ten.

Leatherhead's high street has that lived-in feel - not chocolate-box pretty, but real. The sort of place where the butcher knows your name and the pub does a decent pint. Red Hill rises to the south, offering cracking views across the Mole Valley once you've made the climb. Telegraph Hill provides another vantage point, though it's a bit more of a trek.

Littlelee Wood makes for lovely walks when you need to clear your head. The trees are proper old, and you'll often have the paths to yourself midweek. It's the kind of woodland that reminds you why people fought to protect the Surrey Hills in the first place.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the M25 runs nearby, and both Effingham Junction and Horsley stations put you within striking distance. London feels close enough to touch, but far enough away not to matter when you're settling in for the evening.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You get the best of both worlds - countryside calm with proper transport links. Warren Farm Home Park and Embers Camping near Polesden Lacey put you right in the thick of Surrey Hills walking country, while places like Surrey Hills Yurts offer something a bit different. The area's got that rare quality of feeling both accessible and away from it all.