Hare Warren

The walk up Hare Warren rewards you with one of the better viewpoints across the Chalk country south of Salisbury. It's not a dramatic peak - Wiltshire doesn't do drama - but the sight lines across the rolling downs are genuinely good, especially on a clear day when you can pick out the spire of Salisbury Cathedral away to the north.

What you're doing here is a proper chalk downland walk rather than anything technical. The ascent is gentle and straightforward, taking the best part of an hour at a leisurely pace from the nearest approach. Bring water if it's warm. The ground can be slippery after rain, so decent shoes aren't optional.

This appeals most to walkers who know the area well and want to add a viewpoint to a longer route. Day-trippers from Salisbury itself will find it worth an afternoon, but it's not the sort of place that anchors a weekend. Families with younger children might find the walk a bit much for what's essentially a pleasant vantage point rather than a destination with facilities or a visitor experience.

If you're staying at Coombe Caravan Park or Salisbury Campsite at Bake Farm, both within spitting distance, you could fit this into a morning with the cathedral visit and lunch afterwards. Combine it with a ramble through Chalke Valley if you've got the legs for it. Free to walk, naturally, and best tackled early on a weekend to avoid the worst of the crowds on the paths.