House Hill

The walk up House Hill rewards you with something rare in the Berkshire lowlands - a proper vantage point. It's not dramatic, nothing like the Cotswolds, but the views across the North Wessex Downs genuinely justify the effort. You're looking at miles of rolling countryside, patches of woodland, and on a clear day you can pick out the distant chalk escarpment that makes this corner of England worth knowing about.

The hill itself is gentle enough that families won't find it a slog, though the path can be muddy depending on the season. Once you're up there, the space opens out nicely - it's the sort of spot where you can see why the Saxons and Romans chose this territory. Not overstuffed with interpretation boards or visitor facilities, which is exactly what makes it feel like a proper discovery rather than a staged attraction.

Hungerford is just down the way, so you can combine this with a potter around the town's antique shops and the canal. The farmland around here is working land rather than manicured - real countryside that people actually live in.

Stay at Lorne Hill Farm nearby and you've got yourself a genuine walking base. The 5-star glamping at Evelyns Garden is further out but worth it if you want something more polished. Allow a couple of hours for the walk and views. Go early if you're there during school holidays to avoid the weekend crowds.