Arley Tower

The tower stands on a ridge above Bewdley, commanding views across the Severn Valley that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's a Victorian folly, built in the 1830s as a standalone structure rather than part of any larger building - the kind of thing wealthy landowners threw up when they had money, land, and not much else to do with either.

Reaching it involves a proper walk through woodland, which takes about twenty minutes from the nearest car park. The path climbs steadily but nothing brutal, and the tower itself isn't especially tall - you're not scaling some medieval keep here. What you get instead is a viewing platform with genuine rewards: the valley floor below, the river bending through fields, and on a decent day you can pick out the Cotswolds in the distance.

History enthusiasts will find it mildly interesting as a snapshot of Victorian taste, though it won't occupy you for long. Twenty minutes inside and around the structure is realistic. Families with young kids might struggle with the woodland approach in wet weather, but older children who don't mind a walk will find the climb worthwhile for the views alone.

If you're based at Bank Farm Holiday Park or Hopleys Family Camping nearby, it's an easy morning or afternoon leg without needing to venture far. The surrounding woodland is pleasant enough for a longer ramble if you want to make an afternoon of it. Bewdley itself has proper shops and cafes worth knowing about. Free access, as far as anyone locally can tell.