Barley Pound

You won't find much signposting for Barley Pound, which is rather the point. This Iron Age hillfort sits just outside Farnham in Surrey, and it's the kind of place that rewards poking about on foot more than it does a quick car park visit. The earthworks are still clearly visible - concentric banks and ditches that once formed a proper defensive settlement roughly 2,000 years ago. It's not dramatic like some hillforts, but there's something rather satisfying about standing where people once lived and worked, looking out across the Surrey landscape much as they would have done.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The site itself takes maybe forty minutes to explore thoroughly if you're into archaeology, but it works beautifully as a stop on a longer ramble around Farnham. There's no admission fee, no cafe, no interpretation boards to hold your hand - you're genuinely on your own here, which older kids and history enthusiasts tend to find far more engaging than a manicured museum experience. Younger children might lose interest quickly once they've clambered on the banks, so it's not really a main event for families.

The closest substantial accommodation is Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat, a fair drive away at 5.8 miles, though Farnham itself has plenty of options for a longer Surrey stay. Go in autumn when the ground's firm and you can actually see the banks without fighting through summer vegetation. Early morning or late afternoon light makes the earthworks read much better for photography too.