Cheshire View

On a clear day, Cheshire View lives up to its name - you get proper unobstructed sightlines across the Cheshire plain that stretch for miles. It's a straightforward hilltop vantage point on the Staffordshire side of the border, the sort of place locals know and visitors often miss.

What you're getting is essentially a panorama. The view itself is the whole draw, so don't expect facilities or attractions once you're up there. It's a five-minute stop or a proper twenty-minute picnic spot depending on the weather and your mood. On a humid afternoon in summer, the view gets hazy and frankly a bit dull. Visit when it's crisp - autumn or early spring - and you'll see why people bother.

This works best for walkers and anyone happy to stand about looking at countryside. Kids will find it underwhelming unless you make a game of spotting landmarks across the plain. The location, close to Stoke-on-Trent, makes it an easy detour if you're already in the area, particularly if you're basing yourself at Castle Camping or Sky View Caravan Park nearby.

Really, it's the sort of place worth adding to a route rather than planning a trip around. Pair it with a proper walk - there are footpaths crisscrossing the landscape - and you've got yourself a decent afternoon. Solo or as a couple, you'll appreciate the peace and the view. Bring a thermos. The benches aren't fancy but they're there.