Pitch Hill in the Hurtwood rises from the village of Peaslake to a dramatic 257m high summit with fabulous views to the South Downs.
Pitch Hill
Capel Dairy House Nature Reserve
Capel is a village in Surrey just north of the border with Sussex and just to the side of the A24, which used to pass through it before the bypass was built. Like so many of these little places in Surrey, it dates back to the Domesday Book. The area around was mainly used for farming but the heavy clay soil also nurtured a thriving brickmaking industry and by the early 19th century there were several brickyards too.
Selsdon Nature Reserve
Selsdon Nature Reserve, also known as the "Bird Sanctuary", is a 200 acre green space on the outskirts of the London Borough of Croydon and part of the London Greenbelt. An impressive bluebell wood in the spring, it's home to a number of wood carvings/statues.
Elstead Common (from Thursley Moat Pond)
Elstead Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as are neighbouring Ockley and Royal commons (Walks with Rena post for the latter is here). All are managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust on behalf of the MOD. Elstead and Ockley commons are recognised as some of the finest remaining lowland heath in the south of England and are awash with heather, gorse and bracken. The woodlands on its perimeter are primarily made up of birch and Scots pine.
Royal Common, Forked Pond and Thursley Nature Reserve fringes
Royal Common, just outside Elstead, is part of the Longmoor Training Area owned by the Defence Estates, which also covers large parts of Hankley, Elstead and Ockley commons. Public access is allowed across the Defence Training Estate provided you adhere to the Surrey Commons Military Lands Byelaws 1978. Army training here (when it takes place) revolves around logistics and minor infantry manoeuvre exercises and you're unlikely to come to any harm, but make sure you follow the instructions of troops if you do encounter any.
Walks with Rena 