Hackpen Hill

The walk up Hackpen Hill takes about twenty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the views across the Marlborough Downs are genuinely worth the effort. You're looking south towards Axford and west towards the Kennet Valley - on a clear day it's the sort of view that makes you remember why you bothered with the walk in the first place.

This is chalk downland, pure and simple. The summit sits at around 290 metres, which doesn't sound much until you're standing on it. The climb itself is gentle enough for families with older kids, though little ones might find the final push a bit of a slog. There's a white horse carved into the hillside - the Hackpen White Horse - which you'll spot from the path. It's a relatively recent addition (1838), but it's become part of the landscape now.

Go on a weekday morning if you can. Weekends bring the whole of Marlborough out here, and the narrow chalk paths get churned up quickly. The grass is almost always damp underfoot, even days after rain, so proper boots are essential - trainers will leave you slipping about like an idiot.

If you're staying at Ridgeway Campsite just down the road, this is an obvious morning jaunt before breakfast. Free to visit, takes about an hour all in, and it beats sitting in the car driving somewhere. The downland walking around here is first-rate - you can link Hackpen with other hills along the ridge if you've got the legs for it.