Castle Hill

The earthen mound rises abruptly from the Norfolk flatlands, a stark reminder that this corner of England once mattered strategically. Castle Hill, just outside Norwich, is what remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress - the keep's long gone, but the lumpy topography tells you everything about medieval military thinking.

Climbing to the summit takes five minutes, maybe less if you're fit. The views across Norwich's outskirts are decent rather than spectacular, though on a clear day you get a proper sense of how exposed this position would have been. History types will appreciate the earthworks themselves - the ditch and rampart system is surprisingly intact for something nearly 1,000 years old.

Families with younger kids might find twenty minutes enough unless you're the sort who enjoys rambling across open ground. Older walkers will appreciate the easy access and the fact it slots nicely into a longer circuit around Norwich's edges. The real appeal isn't the site itself so much as what it tells you about Norman conquest and control - this is the archaeology made physical.

It's free to visit and accessible year-round, though mud is inevitable after rain. If you're basing yourself at Moat Island Glamping or Top Farm Campsite, Castle Hill makes a proper half-hour detour on a morning walk before heading into the city proper. Don't expect facilities or interpretation boards. It's just you, the mound, and a thousand years of strategic redundancy.