Crooksbury Hill

The walk up Crooksbury Hill from Farnham takes about twenty minutes if you're reasonably fit, though the final push gets properly steep. You're rewarded with views across Surrey's rolling countryside that stretch for miles on a clear day - the sort of vista that makes you understand why people actually chose to live in the Home Counties. There's an Iron Age fort here too, though the earthworks are subtle enough that you'll want to know what you're looking for or bring a guide with you.

It's a cracking spot for walkers tackling the longer footpaths around Farnham, and families will find it manageable as a half-hour outing if the kids are reasonably motivated. The summit isn't particularly dramatic - no trig point or shelter to speak of - so don't expect grand infrastructure. What you get instead is a proper woodland walk followed by open ground where you can actually see where you are. Worth timing for late afternoon when the light's better and you'll have the hill mostly to yourself.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks like Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat or Chapel Farm Park, it's a sensible leg-stretcher that doesn't require driving anywhere. Combine it with a wander down to the River Wey at Moor Park if you've got the energy - the whole loop takes a couple of hours and gets you away from the car parks. Go midweek if you can; weekends bring ramblers from across the region.