Ailesbury Column

Stand at the top of Tan Hill near Pewsey and you'll spot it straight away - a rather grand stone column rising from the chalk downland like someone's left their walking stick behind. This is the Ailesbury Column, erected in 1826 to commemorate the 1st Marquess of Ailesbury, and it's the sort of thing that makes you wonder what on earth locals thought when they first saw it going up.

It's not a destination you'll spend hours at, but that's rather the point. The column itself is the real attraction here - a proper landmark that dominates the view across the Pewsey Vale. The surrounding downland is what makes the effort worthwhile. You get proper 360-degree views across Wiltshire that stretch for miles on a clear day, and the walk up Tan Hill is straightforward enough for most people, though the hill's steeper than it looks from a distance.

History buffs will appreciate the Victorian monument itself, but walkers are the ones who'll get most from it. It marks a decent vantage point on the Chalk Downs, and the surrounding countryside is cracking for a ramble. Bring a map though - it's easy to wander about up there without quite knowing where you are.

There's no visitor centre or facilities here, which means it's free and blissfully quiet. From either Totteridge Farm or Hillview Park - both close by near Pewsey - you could easily incorporate this into a morning walk without eating into proper park time.