If anyone needs convincing about moving to Surrey then just send them to the top of St Martha's Hill and ask them to take in the panoramic views of the stunning countryside. It'll be impossible to deny the breathtaking beauty of it.
Our county has umpteen rewarding walks on offer, from exploring around Frensham Pond to navigating the Happy Valley circular walk at Box Hill, but the climb up St Martha's Hill near Guildford to the church at the top is surely one of the best. At 573 feet above sea level, the vista over the North Downs is just spectacular.
St Martha's Church is a Grade II listed building from the 12th century and is the only church in Surrey that was on the Pilgrim's Way, the supposed journey taken by pilgrims from Winchester, Hampshire to Thomas Becket's shrine in Kent, Canterbury.
READ MORE: Flying Scotsman in Surrey: Stations the legendary locomotive will go through
The easiest route to it is from the two car parks either side of the hill - Halfpenny Lane car park (GU4 8PZ) and Guildford Lane car park (GU5 9BQ) - both of which are free to use. Then it's just a case of walking up the the sandy, rocky incline towards the church.
It should be noted that neither path you choose is stroller-friendly, so if you're with a child who's too young to walk then it's advisable to put them in a baby carrier. Both ways are around half a mile long and, depending on how fast you move, the walks take about 10 to 15 minutes.
At the top of the hill are benches for you to sit on and admire the glorious views or have a bite to eat. The church itself is usually open most weekends and Bank Holidays and the Sunday service starts at 11am.
What's more, after you've had your fix of fresh country air you can head on into Chilworth village for a pint at The Percy Arms. The scenic walk down the hill is around 1.7-miles long and takes approximately 40 to 50 minutes.
There are other circular walks of St Martha's Hill available to do for those of you who love hiking and that can take up to three hours to complete and span miles. But for a quick and easy walk up a hill that ends with a beautiful visual pay-off, this mini-trek can't be beaten.
Looking for more Guildford news? Sign up to our weekly newsletter to get more news from the town direct to your inbox.Find out how here.
Find out more about things to do and activities in Surrey with our free What’s On email HERE .
