Joysons Hill

The walk up Joysons Hill rewards you with one of those proper Surrey views that makes you forget you're only twenty miles from London. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the South Downs further south - but at around 200 metres it gives you enough height to see across the Weald on a clear day.

The climb from Warlingham takes maybe thirty to forty minutes depending on your pace and how often you stop to catch your breath. It's a straightforward ramble rather than anything technical, which makes it ideal for families with older kids and anyone after a gentle morning walk. The woodland paths are well-trodden and muddy in winter, so proper boots matter.

What you get up there is space and air. On a weekday you'll likely have the hilltop to yourself, which feels like a small victory. There's no café or facilities, so bring your own supplies if you're planning to linger. The view itself is best in autumn and winter when the trees aren't in full leaf - summer greenery tends to flatten the landscape a bit.

If you're staying at Milberry Green Meadows or Alderstead Heath Caravan Club just three miles away, this makes an easy afternoon walk that won't eat into your park time. It's the sort of hill you do for the walk itself rather than as a destination - honest Surrey countryside without the crowds you'd find at Box Hill. Worth it.