Curley Hill

The walk up Curley Hill rewards you with one of the best views across Bracknell Forest, which is saying something in an area that doesn't exactly shout dramatic topography. The summit itself sits at a decent height for these parts, offering proper sight lines across the woodland canopy - on a clear day you can see well beyond the immediate forest boundary.

It's less a destination and more a cracking excuse for a proper woodland walk. Families with older kids will get the most from it; the terrain is fairly accessible but does require actual walking rather than a stroll round a carpark. You're looking at anything from forty minutes to an hour and a half depending on which route you take from Bracknell.

The real appeal here is the relative peace. You'll dodge the crowds that gather at the more famous Surrey viewpoints, and the mixed woodland - oak, silver birch, the odd pine - makes for pleasant enough walking whatever the season. Spring's best when the forest floor comes alive, but it's worth visiting any time you're craving a bit of solitude.

Curley Hill slots nicely into a longer Bracknell Forest exploration. Warfield Park is just five miles away if you're after proper accommodation, and frankly, the two work well together - one for hiking boots, one for proper relaxation. Neither is dramatic, but taken together they paint a picture of what the area does best: gentle woodland exploration without the tourist machinery.