Hart Hill Down

The walk up Hart Hill Down takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and it's genuinely worth the leg work. You're climbing through beech woodland that opens out onto proper downland - the kind of rolling Hampshire landscape that makes you understand why people fought over this land for centuries.

At the top you get decent views across the Berkshire Downs, though it's not the sort of panorama that'll leave you speechless. What makes it worthwhile is the walk itself rather than any dramatic payoff. The chalk paths are good underfoot even after rain, and on a quiet weekday you might not see another soul.

Families with older kids will enjoy it - there's a proper sense of achievement and space to run about. Younger children might find it a bit of a slog up the steep bits. If you're staying at Hollington Park Glamping nearby, it's an easy drive to the trailhead and ticks the box for outdoor activity without needing to commit a whole day.

The heath and open grassland support wildflowers in spring and summer, which adds a bit of colour. Newbury's only a few miles south if you need supplies or a decent lunch break, though there's nowhere to eat up here so bring a picnic.

Go early in the day if you can. The ground dries quicker and the light's better for photographs. Allow two hours round trip including a proper stop at the top.