Marley Heights viewpoint

The walk up to Marley Heights takes about twenty minutes from Godalming, depending on your pace and how many times you stop to catch your breath. Once you're there, the Surrey Weald spreads out below you like someone's rolled out a giant patchwork quilt - fields, woodland, the occasional church spire poking through. It's a proper viewpoint, the kind where you actually understand why the Victorians bothered hauling themselves up hills before they had the internet to distract them.

Walkers will find this worth the effort. You get genuine views across multiple counties on a clear day, and it's the sort of spot where you can properly see how the landscape shifts and changes. Kids under ten might lose interest once they've scanned the horizon, but teenagers and adults who actually enjoy walking will find it satisfying. There's something about standing at height that makes you feel like you've earned a rest.

It's free, naturally - it's just a hill with a view. No facilities, no cafe, no gift shop. Bring water. The best time is early morning when the light's clearer and you'll have the place mostly to yourself, rather than battling weekend crowds.

If you're staying at Little Cowdray Farm Glamping nearby, this makes an easy morning walk before you settle in for the afternoon. It's the kind of spot that justifies a holiday in this part of Surrey - not flashy, but genuinely good for clearing your head.