Information correct at time of writing.
The village of Ewhurst boasts the local village pub, The Bulls Head Inn which has undergone an extensive refurbishment and is a lovely stroll away from The Haybarn; along with a local convenience store, ideal for picking up any essentials. The larger village of Cranleigh offers an array of restaurants, shops and a village pub.
Avid walkers can begin with the Hurtwood and Pitch Hill walk nearby, leading to the picturesque village of Peaslake, before returning through woodland and climbing to the top of Pitch Hill. There is direct access to footpaths taking you all over the Surrey Hills. Seasoned cyclists can enjoy beautiful rides through this scenic Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with nearby Leith Hill offering an epic challenge to the top. Leith Hill Tower makes a great stop to see this grand stone tower built in 1765. A spiral staircase takes you to the top where a telescope allows you to enjoy the incredible views!
The town of Guildford offers Guildford Castle, where you can soak up more outstanding vistas from the viewing platform, before heading to Guildford Museum and browsing the shops, cafes and restaurants. Further afield is Dorking, where you can walk The Deepdene Trail, a lovely walk through one of the country's most historically significant gardens or simply kick back and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Ewhurst. Box Hill, probably the most famous attraction in the Surrey Hills, if not Surrey, is great for scenic walks and exceptional countryside views. The hill gets its name from the ancient box woodland found on the steepest west-facing chalk slopes overlooking the River Mole. It featured prominently on the route of the 2012 Summer Olympics cycling road race event. It has a superb open space for games, kite flying and picnics. If you don't want to bring a picnic there is a café serving light lunches and afternoon teas.
Fellow National Trust site, Devil’s Punchbowl, is also a good choice for ramblers with many footpaths to explore. Visitors can walk through shady woods or across open heathland with grazing cattle and wild ponies. You don’t have to go far to admire the views across the Punch Bowl, but you can venture a bit further and discover the stunning scenery at Highcombe Edge and Gibbet Hill. Gibbet Hill is the second highest point in Surrey with views across the Weald. As well as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the wildlife living there. Again there is plenty of space for picnics, but there is also a café on site serving homemade cakes and sandwiches.
At Leith Hill you can walk on trails through woodland, heathland and farmland before climbing to the top of the majestic Leith Hill Tower. The top of the tower is the highest point in South East England and you can see sweeping views towards London in the north and the English Channel in the south. Leith Hill has been popular with visitors since the Victorian times. There’s plenty of space for family adventures and many spots for picnics too. Hot and cold food is available from the tower’s servery. Leith Hill is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is home to an abundant wildlife. It’s also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Frensham Ponds - There are two ponds here: Frensham Great Pond and Frensham Little Pond. They were both originally created in the 13th century to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester and his court whilst visiting Farnham Castle. The Great Pond has its own sandy beach and is popular with sun seekers and families with picnics. The Little Pond is a tranquil wildlife haven amidst precious heathland and so popular with ramblers and dog walkers.
Newlands Corner. This 103-hectare nature reserve is around four miles east of Guildford town centre and is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust. It is a popular spot all year round and boasts some of the best views over the Surrey Hills. In fact the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is in the heart of Surrey Hills. It is a great place to have a picnic and start a walk. It’s also ideal for cycling, horse riding and family wandering. There is a visitor centre, toilets, cafe and picnic area. Below the slope from Newlands car park lies the pretty village of Albury, which is worth looking around. It is also close to Silent Pool, which you will definitely want to take a photo of.
Wine lovers will enjoy Denbies Wine Estate situated in Dorking, in the heart of the Surrey Hills, overlooking Box Hill, host to the Olympic Cycle race.
For Opera lovers - head to Grange Park Opera, one of the major summer opera festivals in Europe. To play a round of golf, Cranleigh Golf & Country Club is just 3.9 miles away. For some fabulous places to eat the owner recommends: Parrot Inn in Dorking, The William Bray in Guildford, The William IV in Guildford and The Grantley Inn in Cranleigh.