Hinkley Hill

The walk up Hinkley Hill, just outside Salisbury, rewards you with proper countryside views across the chalk downland - it's one of those spots that feels properly remote even though you're barely a mile from town. The summit itself is modest, nothing dramatic, but on a clear day you can see right across to Old Sarum and the cathedral spire in the distance. It takes about thirty minutes from the car park to the top, so it's not a slog.

This is walker territory, really. Families with younger kids might find it a bit steep for what it is, and there's no facilities up top - bring water. The chalk underfoot can be slippery when wet, which happens often in Wiltshire, so choose your day carefully. Go early morning or late afternoon if you want photos without the glare.

The real draw is using it as part of a longer ramble across the downs. It plugs nicely into the wider network of paths if you're staying at Marshwood Farm Camping nearby - five miles down the road and well-reviewed. You could easily combine this with a visit to Old Sarum itself, the Iron Age fort, which gives you that sense of walking where Romans and Saxons actually stood.

Free to visit, naturally, with no gates or nonsense. Worth a morning's effort if you're in Salisbury territory and the weather's decent. Don't expect drama - expect honest, rolling chalk country and views that explain why people have chosen to live here for thousands of years.