Hamdon Hill

The walk up Hamdon Hill from Crewkerne is steep and over too quickly, which rather sums up what this Somerset peak offers. You get real views across the Blackmore Vale once you reach the top, and on a clear day it's absolutely worth the huff and puff. The hill itself is manageable - maybe twenty minutes from the car park if you're not dawdling - and the golden sandstone ruins scattered across the summit give the whole thing a bit of drama.

Historically it's been a fort, a settlement, a stone quarry. There are earthworks to spot if you know what you're looking for, though honestly the average visitor will spend more time catching their breath than examining Neolithic ramparts. Kids will either love the scramble or complain it's boring within minutes - depends entirely on the child.

Parking's straightforward enough near the village, and it costs nothing to walk up. Allow an hour if you're stopping to soak in the view and maybe have a pack lunch at the top. It's not a full day's activity, but it works brilliantly as a morning outing before heading to either Esme's Escape for some proper glamping comfort or Thorney Lakes if you're after a more traditional caravan setup.

Come on a weekday if you can. Weekends draw families and the little summit gets crowded fast. The walk itself is straightforward but genuinely steep - proper calves-burning territory if you're unfit.