Haughmond Hill - Forestry England

The walk up Haughmond Hill takes about twenty minutes if you're not dawdling, and it's steep enough to get your heart rate up without being a proper slog. Once you reach the top, you've got views across the Shropshire countryside that stretch for miles - on a clear day you can see the Welsh hills peeling away to the west. The woodland here is managed by Forestry England, so the paths are well-maintained and the whole thing feels properly cared for.

It's free to visit, and the summit gives you enough space to sit down with a flask and actually take it in rather than just turning around immediately. Walkers will love the network of trails threading through the forest - you can make an afternoon of it if you fancy exploring different routes. Families with younger kids might find the initial climb a bit much, though once they're up there the views tend to make it worthwhile.

The real pull here is that it's genuinely close to Shrewsbury. If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Ebury Hill is barely a mile away - you can knock this off as a morning walk without any faffing about with car journeys. It's the sort of place that rewards a proper visit in decent weather. When it's grey and drizzly, frankly you could give it a miss and come back when the light's better. Spring and autumn are probably your best bets.