Hermit's Hill

The climb up Hermit's Hill from Reading isn't long, but it rewards you with views that punch well above their weight for the South East. You're looking across Hampshire from a proper vantage point - the kind of spot where the landscape actually opens up instead of staying stubbornly flat like most of this region.

It's a straightforward walk with enough gradient to feel like you've earned the summit. The hill itself is modest in size, but that's rather the point. You won't find crowds here, and the walk takes the best part of an hour from town, which means most day-trippers bypass it entirely.

Historically interesting if you're into that sort of thing - the name hints at a hermitage, though there's not much left to see now beyond the ridge itself. What you get instead is a genuine sense of having discovered something local and proper, without the visitor infrastructure that comes with bigger attractions.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's too modest for thrill-seekers and the views, while solid, won't blow your mind if you're coming from more dramatic countryside. But if you're basing yourself at Ravenswing Park or Wellington Country Park - both within five miles - and you want a half-day walk with a real destination rather than just ambling through greenery, it absolutely works.

No facilities up top, so bring water. Accessible year-round, though muddy after heavy rain. Worth the detour if you're in the area staying put.