Ham Hill Hillfort

The Iron Age fort that crowns Ham Hill rises abruptly from the Somerset countryside just outside Crewkerne, commanding views across the Blackmore Vale that justify the climb alone. You're walking through roughly 20 acres of earthwork defences - the ditches and ramparts are still dramatic enough to read clearly, even if you're not an archaeology obsessive. The site itself is open access, which means you can turn up whenever you fancy and for free.

What you actually do here is walk. A lot. The paths loop around the perimeter, taking in the scale of Iron Age defensive thinking - these people knew what they were doing with a spade and a sense of geography. On a clear day the views extend properly far. On a grey Somerset afternoon it's moody and atmospheric, if a bit windswept.

Historians and archaeology types will get the most from this. Kids under eight might find the walk tedious without the payoff of a visitor centre or museum context - though older ones who've studied Iron Age Britain at school will understand what they're looking at. It's genuinely worth the detour if you're already exploring the area, less so if you're making a special trip from miles away.

The nearby caravan parks - Thorney Lakes and Esme's Escape are both close by - make this a sensible half-day add-on to a wider holiday in Somerset. Allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on how thoroughly you explore the ramparts. Go midweek if you can; weekends draw the local dog-walking crowd.