Breakneck Hill

The walk up Breakneck Hill lives up to its name - it's a proper slog, especially if you've not done much climbing recently. But that's rather the point. This Surrey peak sits just outside Warlingham and rewards the huffing and puffing with views that stretch across the Weald on a clear day. It's not a genteel stroll; the gradient is steep enough to make you feel like you've actually earned something by the time you reach the top.

The summit itself is modest - no dramatic vistas or stone markers, just open ground where you can catch your breath and look out toward the North Downs. On weekends you'll find other walkers doing exactly what you are, which means it's never lonely but rarely overcrowded either. The name doesn't come from the views, mind - it's the climb that'll test your mettle.

Walkers with reasonable fitness will find it worthwhile, though parents with very small children might find the relentless gradient tedious. Allow an hour for the ascent and descent depending on your pace. There's no entry fee or opening hours to worry about; it's simply a walk you do.

Stay at Milberry Green Meadows or Alderstead Heath's caravan club site and you've got a solid base for exploring the Surrey hills. Breakneck Hill pairs well with other local walks - it's the sort of thing to slot into a longer day's rambling rather than a destination in itself. Worth doing once if you're in the area and have decent legs.