National Trust - Headley Heath

Headley Heath sprawls across 1,500 acres of proper Surrey countryside just outside Tadworth, and it's the kind of place where you can actually get lost - in the best way possible. The National Trust manages it, which means the paths are well-maintained and the landscape has been left largely to its own devices. You'll find open heathland dotted with gorse and heather, mixed woodland with beech and birch trees, and enough tracks to spend a full day wandering without repeating yourself.

Walkers will love it. The terrain isn't brutal - mostly gentle rolling ground rather than steep climbs - which makes it ideal for families with children who can manage a decent hike. History buffs get a kick out of the Bronze Age barrows scattered about and the medieval field patterns still visible if you know where to look. There are proper views across the Weald when you hit the higher ground, nothing dramatic but genuinely worth the effort.

Free access, which is brilliant. You can turn up whenever suits and spend an hour or spend half a day. Early morning is when it's best - fewer people and the light through the trees is proper atmospheric. It works well as part of a wider Surrey Hills exploration. Norbury Park sits just 3 miles away and offers similar walking, while Merrywood and Surrey Hills Parks provide accommodation within touching distance if you're basing yourself here for a few days. The landscape itself is the draw rather than facilities, so bring what you need.