Breedon Hill

The climb up Breedon Hill takes about twenty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the payoff is a proper 360-degree view across the Derbyshire landscape. On a clear day you can see for miles - rolling fields, distant hills, and the sprawl of Derby away to the south. The summit sits at 209 metres, which doesn't sound much until you're standing on top and realising how exposed it feels.

What makes it worth the trip is the Iron Age hill fort at the top. The earthworks are still visible if you know what you're looking at - concentric banks and ditches that once protected whatever settlement stood here. There's also an old quarry cut into the slopes, a reminder that Breedon was mined for limestone for centuries. It's the sort of place that rewards a bit of poking about.

Walkers will get the most from it. The path itself is straightforward enough, though it can be muddy after rain and the final stretch is a bit steep. Families with younger kids might find the walk there-and-back feels more purpose-driven than scenic. History types will enjoy unpicking the Iron Age earthworks, and on a good afternoon it's genuinely peaceful.

Stay at Field of Dreams Glamping just over a mile away and you've got a sensible walk to tire everyone out before lunch. The site sits close enough that you could make Breedon Hill part of a bigger day exploring the area around Derby. Admission is free, and there's no formal opening times - it's a hill, after all. Go early if you want solitude.