Crog Hill

The walk up Crog Hill takes about forty minutes from Wantage, and once you've crested the top, you understand why locals bother. The views across the Vale of the White Horse stretch out properly - flat farmland rolling toward the Cotswolds, with nothing between you and the horizon except the occasional copse. It's not dramatic stuff, but it's real working countryside, and that matters.

This is a straightforward walk rather than a technical hike. The path climbs steadily through fields, and you'll pass through a couple of gates - nothing technical, just typical English downland terrain. Most people manage it without fuss, though it can get muddy after rain. Allow two to three hours if you're taking it slow and want to sit at the top with a thermos.

Families with older kids will enjoy it. Younger ones might find the walk tedious without the promise of sweets at the summit, but it's short enough that determined four-year-olds have managed it. The real appeal is for walkers who want a proper sense of the landscape without committing to an all-day expedition.

If you're based at Evelyns Garden Glamping just down the road - barely a mile and a half away - this becomes an obvious morning sortie. Nordic Glamping at Botswicky and Lorne Hill Farm are a bit further afield, but worth considering if you want the walk combined with a night under canvas in the area. Free to access, no facilities at the top, so bring water.