Ashtead Common

You'll want sturdy boots for Ashtead Common - it's proper moorland that gets boggy even when the weather's been decent. This sprawling expanse of heathland just outside Chessington covers nearly 500 acres, mostly managed by the National Trust, and it's one of those places that rewards you for getting lost on its network of sandy tracks.

Walkers absolutely get the most from it. The terrain shifts between open heath, woodland, and the occasional pond that attracts dragonflies and newts. Kids won't complain for the first hour or so - there's room to roam and enough minor ups and downs to feel like a proper adventure - but it lacks the drama of, say, somewhere along the Surrey Hills National Landscape further out. The bonus is you're genuinely away from it all despite being within spitting distance of suburban Surrey.

Free to access and open year-round, though autumn and winter walking here is better than summer. Spring brings bluebells in the wooded sections. Allow two to three hours for a decent circuit, longer if you're dawdling.

If you're camping at Embers near Polesden Lacey, Ashtead Common makes a solid morning or afternoon detour - close enough not to eat your whole day, but far enough away that it genuinely feels separate. The heathland management work is visible and ongoing, which matters if you care about that sort of thing. It's less scenic than some Surrey spots, but it's honest and uncluttered.