Church Hill

Church Hill rises sharply from the Cambridgeshire flatlands just east of Royston, and climbing it feels properly rewarding in a landscape where most of the scenery is horizontal. The summit is marked by St John the Baptist Church, a sturdy flint building that's been keeping watch over this corner of East Anglia for centuries. The real draw isn't the church itself, though it's pleasant enough - it's the views from up there. On a clear day you can see across the Fens towards Norfolk, which counts for something when you're used to the relentless pancake-flat terrain around here.

This works best for walkers and anyone who appreciates countryside history. It's not a dramatic peak by any means, but the climb gives you proper breathing room, and the church grounds are peaceful. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to potter about in the churchyard and soak it in. The walk up from the village is straightforward enough, though it can get muddy after rain.

Whether it justifies a special trip on its own is another matter. But if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Guilden Gate Glamping is only three miles away, or Ashridge Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite if you're in a van - it makes a cracking half-morning excursion. Combine it with a proper explore of Royston's High Street or link it into a wider walk across the Fens, and you've got yourself a proper little outing.