What do you dream of doing on holiday?   Flopping on the beach, sipping evening cocktails, perhaps a street market or two.  Or climbing to the top of a volcano. Gazing across the Caribbean Sea from the lush volcanic summit of St Lucia’s Gros Piton would take some beating. Injecting a dash of adventure into your weekends is the first step to dreaming bigger with your annual leave. Dreaming of St Lucia’s bubbling hot mud baths, I embraced the squelching mud of Surrey’s Box Hill in preparation for my longed-for Caribbean adventure.

While the 224-metre Box Hill is a mere fraction of its 768- metre Caribbean brother, both offer challenging vertical inclines, winding steps and the euphoria of jaw-dropping views.  Feeling foolishly optimistic, I opt for the ten-mile Box Hill Circular Walk – which is strenuous and challenging. (I later discover two members of my party are training for Kilimanjaro.) But shorter versions are also available if you want to ease yourself in gently. You can do the walk yourself, bring your dog or come with a Meet Up Hiking group as I did.

The walk starts with the perilous River Mole stepping stones. Having summoned my courage for the crossing, I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed to find the steps completely submerged under countless winter deluges. January hiking in the UK is always full of surprises.

Comprised of 275 steps (equivalent to York Minster or a 25 storey building), Box Hill is no walk in the park but completely do-able for even the most sedentary office worker.  The trick is take it slow and steady.

Getting into a rhythm, I dig my toes into the earth to help propel me higher up the steps. Walking poles are a real help for this type of climb as you can lean on them for extra propulsion.

Heaving myself higher, I’m alarmed to note that the steps on the second level appear to be made for giants – requiring huge lunges. Grabbing a quick breather as a succession of runners gallop past, I’m amazed by the variety of traffic on the hill from dog walkers to runners and cyclists. “Not even half way yet” smirks a smug walker on his descent as I discover there are another two sets of steps before the summit – providing an added challenge for aching limbs and lungs.

After twenty minutes of huffing and puffing, the winding steps finally give way to the open vistas of Box Hill summit.  Sadly the mist has shrouded the verdant valleys, wine groves and country estates that were much admired by Jane Austen.  If only I was in St Lucia, I reflect wistfully while tucking into a muffin at the adjacent National Trust Box Hill cafe.

Revived and refreshed, we head on past one of the most curious sights of the walk – Broadwood’s Folly, a curious cylindrical shaped tower with a tree growing out the top. A grade II listed building, the tower is such a famous local landmark that it has even inspired a wine in its name, produced by local vineyard, Denbies Wine Estate. Stopping for a quick photo opportunity, we head on to White Hill and more punishing steps.

Making a mental note to do more escalator climbing on the tube. I haul myself up into the heavens, arriving at the top in a shaky, sweating but triumphant state. From here it’s plain sailing all the way to the picturesque village of Mickleham, where you can stop for a well-earned pie and a pint at the 16th century Running Horses pub – the former stables for Epsom racehorses.

If you’ve brought a packed lunch, the options are less enticing and we end up sitting on the park swings to wolf down our sarnies.  Keen to get going before stiffening up, we set off from Mickleham village at a cracking pace through the eerie graveyard of St Michael’s Church – first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1080.  Leaving the village behind, we brace ourselves for another steep uphill (thankfully no steps this time), to the level, grassy pastures of Mickleham Downs.

Entering the shady canopy of Headley Heath, we encounter an earthy habitat of alkaline chalk down lands and mixed woodlands which culminate in two hair-raising descents requiring nerves and buns of steel. Gingerly mincing down the squelching quagmire, I’m reminded of the hot mud baths bubbling under the St Lucia sun.

Wishing for the second time that I’d brought my poles with me, I make it down in one piece – avoiding the horror of tobogganing down on my derriere. On the home straight, we’re cheered by the sight of the first snowdrops of the year before the final gruelling slopes of Box Hill reappear.  Digging into our last resources of will power, we finally make it to the summit to be greeted this time with the awe-inspiring views that so impressed Jane Austen.

Gazing down over Surrey, the euphoria more than makes up for the hard work of clambering to the top.  Feeling a new found confidence, I can’t wait to induce some weekend envy in my colleagues come Monday morning.  I may just book a couple of weeks’ annual leave to St Lucia while I’m at it.

Top tips: walking poles, waterproofs and walking boots are essential on this walk.
Return group-saver tickets from Victoria to Box Hill & Westhumble cost £5.90 per person.
Duration: approximately four hours depending on your pace

This article is written as part of Virgin Holidays Dream Bigger campaign.  Find out more information on adventurous activities in St Lucia.