Hawkhurst Head

The walk up Hawkhurst Head from Macclesfield isn't what you'd call a lung-burster, but it's steep enough to make your legs remind you why you came. What you get at the top, though, is a proper vista across Cheshire - moorland stretching away, the hills rolling off towards the Pennines, and on a clear day you can see well beyond the immediate landscape.

It's the kind of spot that rewards walkers more than casual strollers. Budget two hours return if you're coming from town, a bit less if you park closer to the moorland edge. The path is rough underfoot in places - wear decent boots rather than trainers. Families with young legs will manage fine; toddlers, less so.

There's nothing fancy up there. No café, no visitor centre, no gift shop. Just moorland, wind, and views. Which is exactly why people come. The heather blooms in late summer, and that's when the walk looks its best, though spring brings green growth that's equally worth seeing.

If you're based at Eastwood End Caravan Park nearby, this sits nicely as a half-day excursion. It's the kind of walk that clears your head without eating up your whole afternoon, leaving time for exploring Macclesfield's mill heritage or pushing on to bigger peaks if the mood takes you. Free to access, no gates or restrictions. Just go when the weather's decent.