Castle Hill Country Park

The Iron Age fort at Castle Hill is the real draw here - you're walking across ground where Iron Age people actually built defences, and you can still make out the earthwork banks even now. It's a nature reserve these days, so it's all grassland and open views rather than a fortress, but that somehow makes it more interesting. You get proper 360-degree views across the Wiltshire downs from up there, and on a clear day you can see for miles.

The walk itself isn't strenuous - it's accessible enough for families and anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, though the ground can be muddy after rain. Allow an hour if you're just pottering about and taking photos, longer if you want to really explore the ramparts and think about what life was like 2,000 years ago. It's free to wander, which is a bonus.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from this - archaeology buffs especially. Kids might find it a bit abstract unless they're into that sort of thing, but the views alone make it worth the trip. Walkers will appreciate it as a solid half-day outing from Salisbury, particularly if you're staying at one of the nearby campsites like Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Coombe Caravan Park.

Go early morning or late afternoon for better light and fewer people. It's not a destination that'll keep you occupied all day, but paired with other Salisbury attractions - the cathedral, the Old Sarum site - it slots in nicely to a weekend break.