Harts Hill

The walk up Harts Hill takes about twenty minutes from the nearest parking, and it's worth every step if you're after proper views across Warwickshire. The summit sits just outside Banbury, high enough to feel like an achievement without requiring fell boots or a packed lunch. On a clear day you can see right across the countryside - that rolling patchwork of fields and hedgerows that makes this part of the Midlands surprisingly appealing.

It's free, of course. No visitor centre, no gift shop, no Instagram-ready installations. Just a modest peak with decent sightlines and the kind of quiet you don't get near towns. Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming - the actual summit isn't dramatic, more of a gentle plateau - but walkers doing the circuit around Banbury will absolutely include it. The approach is straightforward rather than technical, making it accessible for most fitness levels.

If you're based at Mount Farm Park or Fir Tree Campsite near Banbury, Harts Hill works as a morning outing before you head elsewhere. It's not a full-day destination. Allow an hour round trip with photos and dawdling. The real value is that it breaks up a caravan holiday without needing to drive anywhere - a proper stretch of the legs within sight of camp. Weather matters here more than most peaks because there's no shelter, so pick a decent day. Winter can be muddy, spring and autumn are ideal.