Combe Hill

The walk up Combe Hill near Newbury rewards you with one of the finest views across the North Downs. It's not particularly high or dramatic, but that's almost the point - you can get proper distance across Hampshire and into Berkshire without knackering yourself out. The summit offers clear sightlines in most directions, and on a bright day you'll spot the landscape rolling away for miles. Most people tackling this will be local walkers rather than tourists, which keeps it refreshingly quiet. The approach is straightforward enough, though the final ascent has a decent gradient - nothing technical, just steady. Allow ninety minutes or so from the car park if you're taking your time and stopping to gaze about. Families with older kids do fine here; younger ones might flag on the push to the top, but the views make it worth the effort. It's free to visit and open all year, though autumn and spring offer the clearest air. Winter can be muddy underfoot depending on recent weather. If you're staying at Hollington Park Glamping just down the road, this makes an excellent morning or late-afternoon outing before heading back to camp. It works well as part of a broader walking day around the area rather than a standalone destination - pair it with other local walking routes to make a proper day of it. The real appeal is the effort-to-reward ratio and the fact it's genuinely uncrowded.