National Trust - Box Hill

The chalk escarpment rises steeply from the Mole Valley, and once you're up there, the views across Surrey feel properly expansive. Box Hill is one of those places that rewards the legwork - there's a decent climb from Tadworth, though you can also park nearer the top if you're not in the mood for a slog. The National Trust manages it well, with proper paths and enough open grassland to make you feel like you've actually escaped somewhere.

On a clear day you can see for miles across the Weald. In spring the wildflowers are genuinely worth the trip; by summer it's crowded with day-trippers and cyclists tackling the road up from the village. The woodland sections are pleasant but nothing remarkable - the real draw is the vista and the walk itself. Families with decent stamina will enjoy it; young kids might find the climb tedious unless they're genuinely keen walkers. There's a café at the top which is handy for a post-climb coffee, though nothing fancy.

Admission is free, which is the main reason to bother when there's so much green space about. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper circular walk. The nearby parks at Merrywood and Betchworth Fort are close enough for a combined trip - you could do Box Hill in the morning and still have time to explore the grounds elsewhere. It's the sort of place that feels obligatory if you're staying in the area, and it's honest enough to earn that rather than disappoint.