Cain Hill

The walk up Cain Hill from Henlow takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and honestly, it's one of those rare Hertfordshire walks where you actually feel like you've climbed something. The peak itself sits at 245 metres - not Alpine by any stretch, but enough to give you proper views across the county when you reach the top. On a clear day you can see all the way to Bedfordshire and beyond.

It's not a dramatic summit. There's no dramatic anything here, really. Just open chalk grassland, a few trees, and that distinctly flat horizon you get in the Home Counties. What makes it worth the trip is the path itself - it rolls through proper countryside, farm tracks and field edges, the sort of walking that reminds you Hertfordshire has more going for it than just motorways and commuter towns.

Families with decent walkers will manage it fine. The terrain isn't technical, though it can get muddy after rain. Allow two hours for a round trip including a breather at the top. The nearest town of Henlow is a small spot - you'll want to stay at somewhere like Henlow Bridge Lakes just down the road, which makes this an easy morning expedition before heading out for the rest of your break.

Best visited in autumn when the views sharpen up and you're not battling midges. Summer can get busy with local walkers. Free to access, obviously - it's open country.