Harecastle Hill

The walk up Harecastle Hill rewards you with one of the better viewpoints across the Potteries and into Cheshire proper. It's not a massive summit - you're looking at around 200 metres of elevation - but the climb from Stoke-on-Trent's outskirts is steady enough to feel like proper exercise without being a slog.

What strikes you first is how the landscape opens up once you're near the top. On a clear day you can trace the sweep of the Peak District to one side and watch the Cheshire plain roll away in the other direction. There's a bit of industrial heritage visible too if you know where to look - remnants of the area's pottery and mining past dotting the valleys below.

It's a walker's hill rather than a sitting-around spot. Most people allow ninety minutes to two hours there and back from the nearest parking, depending on fitness. No facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. Summer weekends can get busy with local hikers, but midweek visits tend to be quieter.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Castle Camping, Sky View, or Yellowstone around Sandbach way - this makes a solid half-day excursion. Pair it with a wander round Stoke-on-Trent's heritage centre or a visit to one of the potteries if the weather turns rough. Free to climb, no entrance fee, and honest work for the views you get.