Croydon Hill

The highest point in Cambridgeshire at 417 metres, Croydon Hill offers something genuinely rare in East Anglia - proper elevation and a view that stretches for miles. It's a modest climb rather than a dramatic scramble, but on a clear day you can see right across the county towards Norfolk and Suffolk. The walk from Royston takes about forty minutes and winds through chalk grassland, which blooms rather beautifully in late spring if you time it right.

Walkers will appreciate this more than most. It's not a tick-box tourist spot with a cafe or visitor centre - just you, the landscape, and the slightly surprised realisation that you're actually at the top of something. The surrounding countryside is gently rolling chalk, good for longer rambles if you want to extend beyond the peak itself. Families with kids who can manage a steady walk will find it rewarding without being punishing.

There's no admission charge, naturally. Allow two hours if you're taking it slowly and want to sit about at the top. Go on a weekday morning if possible - weekends can get a bit busy with the dog-walking set, and the views are sharpest before midday heat haze sets in.

It works well as a morning outing if you're based at Guilden Gate Glamping or Cambridgeshire Lakes. Both are within striking distance of Royston. Pair it with a walk around the town's medieval priory ruins for a proper half-day out.