Escape the grind

Hot dusty days in the city spent dodging shoppers and playing beat the traffic can lose their appeal, and when they do it might just be time for some green therapy on London's doorstep.

When dislodging scratchy pieces of roadside gravel from sandals really has become a little tiresome, imagine instead padding about on damp dew or paddling in babbling brook. Not to over sentimentalize, but a walk through Mother Nature's world is rumoured to have the revitalising powers of an hour-long bath after the Glastonbury festival.

Just 60 minutes from London a network of walks run across the countryside bringing together heritage and history, fabulous country pubs for a pint of the real stuff and restaurants to satisfy the hunger worked up by a hard day's meandering.

To find out more about routes from Kent to Hampshire, Sussex to Surrey, visit www.southeastwalks.com which has information on sights to see, tailored walking holidays and places to stay.