Billing Hill

The highest point in Northamptonshire at 149 metres might not sound terribly impressive, but Billing Hill delivers surprisingly good views across the county's rolling farmland. I found the walk to the summit straightforward enough - it's more of a gentle climb than a proper hike, making it doable for families with older children.

From the top, you can see clear across to the Cotswolds on a decent day, with Northampton sprawling below and the M1 snaking through the landscape. It's not spectacular by Peak District standards, but there's something satisfying about standing on the county's highest spot. The area around the summit feels properly rural despite being so close to town.

Walkers will appreciate this as part of a longer route rather than a destination in itself - you could easily combine it with exploring the nearby countryside around Sywell. Families staying at Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park or the other sites around Overstone Lakes will find it makes a nice morning outing, though younger kids might get restless on the approach walk.

Allow an hour or two if you're making a proper go of it. The hill itself is accessible year-round, and autumn brings lovely colours to the surrounding woodlands. It's free, obviously, being a hill rather than an attraction, and parking can usually be found in the nearby villages.