Bugbrooke Mount

The walk up Bugbrooke Mount rewards you with views across the Nene Valley that make the modest climb entirely worthwhile. It's not a mountain in any Alpine sense - we're talking perhaps 100 metres of elevation gain - but from the top, Northampton spreads out to the south and the countryside rolls on properly in all directions.

This is walker territory, frankly. The sort of place you add to a longer ramble rather than visit in isolation. Come on a clear day or don't bother; the point is the vista, and cloud cover renders it pointless. Most people allow 30 minutes to reach the summit and as long again to descend. It's free, accessible year-round, though winter can leave the path boggy.

Families with younger children might find the ascent a bit of a slog for limited payoff - there's no visitor centre, café, or entertainment beyond the view itself. If your kids want ruins or a playground, look elsewhere. But proper walkers, particularly those exploring the Nene Valley Trail, should factor this in. The surrounding area is pleasant farming country with decent footpaths.

Stay at one of the nearby parks - Hideaway Wood Farm over near Blisworth has glamping and alpacas if you want something beyond standard caravan pitches, or Kirkely Meadows if you're after a conventional base. From either, Bugbrooke Mount makes a sensible morning outing before heading into Northampton proper for lunch.