What better time to explore the Surrey countryside than summer? Emma Pritchard guides us around outings to remember, with pond swimming, open-air theatre and homemade icecream
Read more of Emma's great ideas for making the most of the countryside in her monthly magazine column* or on her blog, craftandcountry.com; you can follow her on Twitter @craftandcountry
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Frensham Little Pond
WALK – Explore the wildlife haven of Frensham Little Pond, the geological wonders of Devil’s Jumps and 600 arboretum based artworks on a six-mile circular.
PUB – Stop at the halfway point in Churt for black pepper duck, and strawberry and ricotta custard – two of the most popular pizzas cooked in the wood-fired oven of The Bel and the Dragon.
PICNIC – Pretend you’re at the beach and eat your lunch on the sandy shores of Frensham Great Pond. The waters are ‘excellent’ according to the Environment Agency, if you fancy a swim.
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Painshill Park
Painshill Park, Portsmouth Road, Cobham, KT11 1JEWALK – Cobham's Painshill Park offers 158 acres of parkland, lakes, mystical follies and woodlands to get pleasurably lost in. Make up your own route or join one of the regular guided trails.
PUB – You could choose to admire the park from the windows of on-site Hamilton’s Tea Room with tea and cake. Alternatively, The Old Plough is an independently-owned option within walking distance and with a welcoming bar and garden. It’s also not far from Stoke d’Abernon station, on the main Waterloo line.
PICNIC – Eat your sandwiches by one of the park’s many impressive features: the 19th-century waterwheel, for example, is one of the largest still in operation in the UK.
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Silent Pool
WALK – Once you’ve discovered the 12th-century church and many listed buildings of the village of Shere (many pre-date 1830), soak up the still of the nearby shady hollow that surrounds Silent Pool, and admire the views of the Surrey Hills from Newlands Corner.
PUB – Award-winning The William Bray, in Shere itself, has a menu that includes Shere Drop sausages and seasonal ice cream handmade on site.
PICNIC – Find a spot on the banks of the River Tillingbourne, which flows through this historic village. From the bridge at Middle Street you can see the 19th-century wooden Old Fire Station (now public toilets).
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