Bury Mount

Two massive earthwork banks rising 15 feet from the ground mark all that remains of this Norman motte and bailey castle, built around 1100. Walking the perimeter takes barely ten minutes, but the sheer scale of these grassy mounds near Towcester still impresses nearly a thousand years later.

History enthusiasts will appreciate how clearly you can trace the original castle layout - the circular motte where the wooden keep once stood, and the kidney-shaped bailey that housed the garrison buildings. Dog walkers use it regularly as a quick countryside circuit, though there's precious little here for young children beyond a brief scramble up the slopes.

The site sits on private farmland with no formal access arrangements, so respect the countryside code. Best visited on a crisp winter's day when the earthworks stand out starkly against bare fields. You'll spot it easily from the road between Towcester and Whittlebury - just look for the obvious humps in an otherwise flat landscape.

Perfect for a 20-minute detour if you're staying at one of the Silverstone area campsites like Hamilton Fields or Windmill Farm. The racing circuit itself is only a few miles south, making this a decent historical counterpoint to all that modern horsepower.