Chrishall Common

The walk up to Chrishall Common rewards you with views that stretch across the Essex-Cambridgeshire border, with Royston sitting just south of your vantage point. It's a proper spot if you're after a bit of elevation - not dramatic, but enough to feel like you've earned the view. The common itself is open grassland with the kind of wide horizons that make you remember why walking matters. Worth an hour or so, maybe longer if you're the sort who likes to sit and stare across the fields.

Families with older kids will get more from it than those with toddlers in tow. There's genuine countryside feel here - no cafes, no facilities that I could see - so come prepared. The walk isn't complicated, but the paths can get muddy depending on season, so proper footwear helps. Free to visit, obviously.

If you're staying at Pightle Farm Campsite nearby, this makes a decent morning walk without eating into your day. Combines nicely with exploring the villages around here rather than becoming a destination in itself. Royston's close enough for supplies or lunch afterwards. The sort of place that's better in autumn or spring - high summer can feel a bit exposed and bare, winter's grey but honest. Not a detour unless you're in the area already, but a decent use of a couple of hours.