Coton Hill

The walk up Coton Hill from Shrewsbury takes about forty minutes if you don't dawdle, and the reward is a proper viewpoint over the town and surrounding countryside. It's not dramatic - you won't find jagged peaks or Alpine scenery here - but on a clear day the sight of Shrewsbury's medieval street pattern laid out below, with the river doing its distinctive loop around the town, makes the effort worthwhile.

The hill itself is accessible farmland with decent footpaths, and it's free to walk whenever you fancy. Most people allow an hour or so return trip, though you can make it longer if you explore the surrounding fields. Families with kids aged eight and up will find it manageable; younger ones might struggle with the gradual climb. History buffs might want to know that this was significant Civil War ground - the Battle of Shrewsbury fought nearby in 1403 makes the landscape feel loaded with time.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Oxon Hall and Love2Stay are closest, just two to three miles out - Coton Hill works well as a morning walk before heading into Shrewsbury proper for lunch. The town itself has far more to occupy a week than this single viewpoint, but if the weather's promising and you've got decent boots, it's worth the detour. Go early to avoid the afternoon crowds from town.