Bonfire Hill

The walk up Bonfire Hill rewards you with views across Warwickshire that stretch for miles on a clear day - proper countryside rolling out in all directions. It's a modest peak by most standards, but that's rather the point. You won't find crowds here or visitor centres or the kind of infrastructure that comes with bigger attractions. It's just you, the landscape, and the climb itself.

The hill is best tackled from Banbury, where you can park and head out on foot. Allow a couple of hours for a leisurely round trip, longer if you fancy exploring the surrounding paths. Walkers get the most from it, though families with older kids willing to leg it will find it worthwhile - the summit moment feels earned rather than handed to you.

What makes it worth the effort is exactly what it isn't: there's no fee, no queues, no peak-time chaos. Go early or late in the day when the light hits differently and you've got the place to yourself. Winter's actually rather good - the bare landscape gives you sight lines you won't get in summer, and if there's been frost overnight the grass crunches underfoot in a satisfying way.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Mount Farm Park or Fir Tree are both within walking distance of Banbury - Bonfire Hill makes for a decent morning or afternoon outing to break up the camping routine. It won't eat up your whole day, but it's genuine Warwickshire, and there's something to be said for that.