Heale Hill

The walk up Heale Hill takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and it's straightforward enough without being boring. You're climbing through proper countryside - chalk grassland, scattered trees, the sort of landscape that makes you understand why Salisbury Plain matters. The summit itself isn't dramatic, but the 360-degree views across Wiltshire are genuinely good. On a clear day you can see for miles.

It's best for walkers and anyone after a gentle ramble with a point to it. Kids will manage the ascent fine, though younger ones might find the return a bit samey. The hill has archaeological interest too - there's evidence of ancient activity up here, which adds a layer if you're into that sort of thing. Come on a weekday morning and you'll likely have the place to yourself.

The location works brilliantly if you're based at Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Coombe Caravan Park - both within five or six miles. It's the sort of walk that takes a couple of hours total and leaves you time for exploring Salisbury itself in the afternoon. The town's worth half a day, particularly the cathedral and the old marketplace. Heale Hill doesn't pretend to be something it isn't, but it delivers exactly what it promises: a decent viewpoint and a bit of exercise in one of England's least fussy corners.