Brynard's Hill

The walk up Brynard's Hill from Swindon takes you past farmland and into proper chalk downland - nothing dramatic, but the effort pays off once you reach the top. You're standing on the North Wilts downs with views that stretch across the Cotswolds on a clear day, and on grey days the landscape still has a certain austere beauty to it.

It's not a challenging climb by any stretch - most people manage it in under an hour - which makes it ideal for families who want their kids actually moving rather than complaining from the outset. Walkers will appreciate the straightforward route and the fact that you can tick off a peak without needing rock-climbing credentials. Historians might find the Iron Age fort site interesting enough, though there's not much to see on the ground anymore.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so bring water and decent shoes - the chalk gets slippery when wet. Summer's your best bet, when the views open up properly. Winter can feel a bit bleak up there.

If you're camping nearby at Park Farm Campsite, Brynard's Hill makes a solid half-day excursion that doesn't require driving far. Swindon itself is close enough that you could combine it with a town visit, though the appeal here is really the walk itself and that moment standing on top of Wiltshire looking out across the Cotswolds. Worth doing if you're in the area, though don't expect it to change your life.