Badby Down

The walk up Badby Down rewards you with one of those properly expansive views across Northamptonshire that make you understand why people bothered settling here centuries ago. It's not a dramatic peak by any stretch - more of a gentle rise that gives you enough elevation to see for miles across the rolling farmland towards Daventry. The Down itself is open grassland, the sort of place where you can actually feel the wind and watch weather systems roll in from a distance.

Historically, this is Iron Age hill fort territory, though you won't find dramatic ramparts or obvious structures - the archaeology is there if you know what you're looking at, but most visitors simply come for the walk and the views. Allow a straightforward hour for the ascent and a wander about, longer if you're the type to sit and stare at the horizon for a bit.

It's ideal for walkers who don't need Alpine drama but do appreciate space and decent vistas. Families with younger kids might find it a touch tame unless they're keen on rambling generally. The nearby Whitefeather Campsite sits just half a mile away, making this a logical add-on to a camping weekend, and if you're based at any of the glamping spots around here - Hideaway Wood Farm or Magic Mushroom Cabin - you're perfectly positioned for a morning constitutional. Come on a clear day and you'll see why it was worth the walk. Arrive on a grey afternoon and you'll understand why the landscape can feel properly melancholic.