Battery Hill

The walk up Battery Hill rewards you with proper views across the Wiltshire downs - it's the kind of spot where you suddenly understand why people fought over this landscape for centuries. The summit sits around 200 metres, nothing dramatic in Alpine terms, but the climb from Salisbury is steady enough that you'll feel you've earned the vantage point when you reach it.

From the top, the chalk downs roll away in all directions, with the cathedral spire visible on clear days if you know where to look. It's an Iron Age hill fort, though there's not much to see in terms of visible fortifications these days - mostly earthworks and that commanding position that made it valuable once. The walk itself takes roughly 45 minutes from the nearest car parking, so factor in an hour if you're not a brisk walker.

Walkers get the most from Battery Hill. If you're based at one of the Salisbury caravan sites - either the Hillside Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club Site - this makes an excellent morning outing before lunch in town. It's not the sort of place kids will find endlessly fascinating once they've climbed it and spotted the views, though the walk itself keeps them engaged.

Go on a clear morning. The chalk can be slippery after rain, and afternoon light tends to turn the view a bit hazy from this height. No facilities at the summit itself, so bring water.