Castle Hill Country Park

The climb up Castle Hill rewards you with proper views across Leicester and the surrounding countryside - on a clear day you can see for miles. It's a proper local favourite, the sort of place where you'll spot dog walkers and families making the steep push to the top year-round.

What you're actually walking up is an Iron Age hillfort, though what remains now is mostly the earthworks and the sense of history rather than ruins to clamber over. The views are the main draw, honestly. The walk itself takes about fifteen minutes if you're reasonably fit, longer if you've got small legs in tow.

Families with older kids will get the most from this one. The path can be muddy and steep in places, so it's not ideal for buggies or very young children who tire easily. History enthusiasts might enjoy poking about the hillfort earthworks, though there's not masses of interpretation on site - you'll want to have done your homework first.

It's completely free to access and open whenever, which means you can turn up whenever suits you. Well worth combining with a longer walk around the Charnwood area if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Charnwood Acres or Proctors Park. Leicester itself is barely three miles away, so it works brilliantly as a half-day outing from a camping base rather than a full day activity. Go early morning to dodge the school-run crowds and get the light right for photos.