Aston Hill

The walk up Aston Hill from Shifnal rewards you with one of the better viewpoints in this corner of Staffordshire - nothing dramatic, but on a clear day you're looking out over the Shropshire plain with real perspective on how the landscape rolls away. It's a proper modest summit, the kind where locals know the best route and visitors sometimes miss it entirely if they're not paying attention.

The climb itself is straightforward rather than strenuous, taking maybe twenty minutes from the nearest car park depending on which path you choose. You'll pass through farmland and along hedged tracks - it's all fairly working countryside, nothing manicured. The views justify the effort though. Walkers and families after a gentle half-hour outing will get genuine value here. History buffs won't find much to chew on unless you're interested in the agricultural past, but the vantage point itself tells you plenty about why settlements grew where they did.

If you're staying at High Onn Holiday Park or Copper Beech Glamping nearby, this makes a solid morning walk before lunch back in Shifnal. Allow an hour including the return leg and time to stand about taking photos. It's the kind of spot that works best in decent weather - mist rolls in and it becomes less of a draw. Free to access and no facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. Going mid-week you'll likely have the place to yourself.