Hydon Hill

Hydon Hill rises sharply from the Wiltshire countryside just a few miles south of Salisbury, offering one of the better viewpoints in this gently rolling corner of England. It's not dramatic - you won't find yourself gasping at Alpine vistas - but on a clear day the view across the Chalke Valley towards Dorset is genuinely worth the climb.

The summit itself is a modest affair: a modest grassy knoll with a triangulation pillar. The real appeal is the walk up. Most people tackle it from the south, a steady trudge through fields that takes perhaps 20 minutes from the nearest parking. It's popular with local walkers and families who don't need their hikes to be punishing. Kids will manage it fine, though legs do get tired on the steeper sections.

What makes it work is the peace. You won't find crowds here, even at weekends. The landscape feels properly rural - working farmland, hedgerows, the occasional herd of cattle. If you're camped at Marshwood Farm or Coombe Caravan Park nearby, this is an easy half-day outing that won't require much planning.

Go in late afternoon if you can. The light softens, the valley below fills with shadow, and you get some decent photography without the glare. Allow an hour or so from the car park, including dawdling time at the top. It's free, obviously - just close the gates behind you and watch for mud after rain. Not essential, but worth fitting in if you're in the area.