Berwick Down

The walk up Berwick Down rewards you with proper 360-degree views across the Dorset countryside - the kind of vista that makes you understand why people have been settling in this corner of England for millennia. From the top you're looking out towards Shaftesbury and across the chalk downs that roll like waves in every direction. The ascent isn't brutal, but it's steady enough that you'll feel it in your legs, particularly if the wind is picking up.

This is prime territory for walkers and anyone with a thing for landscape. You won't find attractions or cafes up here - it's just grass, sky, and the distant sound of the wind. That's rather the point. The views alone make the effort worthwhile, though I'd be honest and say it's not the sort of place to spend hours lingering unless you've brought a picnic and genuinely fancy sitting on a hilltop for a bit.

If you're based at either Chalke Valley Camping or Gold Hill Glamping - both excellent spots just a few miles away near Shaftesbury - Berwick Down works brilliantly as a half-morning sortie. Park up near Shaftesbury itself and pick a footpath up, or drive closer depending on what access is available. Spring and early summer are your best bets weather-wise, though frankly, a sharp autumn day with proper light can be rather spectacular up there too. Bring waterproofs whatever season you choose. The ground gets muddy.