Castle Hill

The ramparts at Castle Hill rise abruptly from the landscape just outside Honiton, a proper Iron Age fort that commands views across the Devon countryside. You're looking at roughly two thousand years of history here - the concentric earthwork defences are still clear enough to trace with your eye, even if the wooden palisades and gateways have long since rotted away.

It's a straightforward walk up, takes about twenty minutes to reach the summit depending on fitness. The effort pays off. From the top you can see right across the Blackdown Hills, and on a clear day the whole valley spreads below you like an old map. The site itself isn't crowded - you won't find interpretation boards or a visitor centre, just genuine earthwork archaeology with a handful of other keen walkers about.

History enthusiasts will spend a solid hour picking apart the defence structures and imagining what life looked like when this was a thriving settlement. Families with energetic kids will enjoy the short hike and the scramble to the top feels properly adventurous for younger legs. Those after a casual amble, though, might find it a bit brief once you've taken in the view.

It's free and accessible year-round, though winter mud can make the approach squelchy. Spring and early autumn are best - clear skies without the August heat. If you're staying at nearby Hartridge Springs Spa Glamping, it's a cracking half-day outing that beats another lap of the camp.