Day Out

I have lived in Brook, Surrey, near Godalming for the last six years. What I love to do is walk around, something I don't normally get a huge amount of time to do. Public footpaths are difficult to find - you tend to go through people's kitchens. I prefer to skirt the houses and rely instead on Pub Walks in Surrey written by Chris Howkins - he comes up with 2-3 mile circular walks which always end up in a pub and don't kill you. A wonderful one is the Sun Inn in Dunsfold on the B2130 near Chiddingfold, which dates at least from Tudor times. You see all kinds of vegetation while walking around - there's an early English church and an old mill. The pub mainly does home-made steak and kidneys. Even better is the Withies Inn in Compton (0483 421158) off the A3, which has fabulous meals in the evening. You can also eat outside.

A handy local landmark is a wine warehouse, Santat Wines (0483 450494), in Guildford - if you know nothing about wine, they advise you what case to buy. If you want to go over the top there's Morels in Haslemere. It's a French restaurant and fairly expensive. The food looks as if you're eating a painting by Picasso. You tend to have to dress for it as well. I also like to sit in my garden which is next to the local cricket ground and watch a game while drinking wine and champagne. In the evening, you can see all these hot air balloons floating past. I've never discovered where they come from. A day out in London is a bit too much of a hassle, but I do miss the quality music concerts, particularly chamber music.

Philip Langridge stars in 'Peter Grimes' at the ENO (071-836 3161) 7.30pm 21, 24, 27 (6pm), 30 Jun