Castle Ditches

A steep climb up a chalk ridge rewards you with one of the better views across the Salisbury Plain. Castle Ditches is an Iron Age hill fort - not a castle despite the name - and the ramparts are still obvious if you know what you're looking at, though honestly they're more humps than dramatic earthworks. The walk itself is the real draw here. It's a proper lung-buster if you're not used to Wiltshire gradients, but manageable for most ages and the paths are straightforward. Allow forty minutes up and back, maybe an hour if you dawdle.

History buffs will appreciate the archaeological side - this is genuine British Iron Age settlement, not a theme park version. Kids get bored unless they're into climbing and views, which fair few are. The lack of interpretation panels is annoying if you want background, so bring your phone and look it up beforehand.

It's free and there's rough parking near the base. Visit midweek if possible - weekends pull in walkers from Salisbury and beyond. The views work best on clear days; spring and autumn are ideal when you're not sweating through summer clothes or trudging through winter mud.

For a longer Salisbury Plain stay, both Marshwood Farm and Chalke Valley are within striking distance and excellent camping bases. You could easily combine Castle Ditches with Stonehenge and Old Sarum for a proper archaeology day. Worth the trip if you're already in the area, but don't make a special journey for it alone.