Isle of Wight Hill

The walk up Isle of Wight Hill, just outside Salisbury, rewards you with views that stretch across the Wiltshire chalk downlands - proper stuff. It's not a major peak by any measure, but that's rather the point. You get the sense of achievement without needing climbing gear or a full day's expedition.

From the summit you can see for miles on clear days, with the Salisbury plain rolling away beneath you. The path itself is straightforward, mostly grassland with the occasional steeper section that gets your legs working. Walkers will find it a solid morning's outing, especially if you pair it with a ramble through the nearby villages. History buffs might find the views interesting given the number of Bronze Age barrows dotting the downland around here, though nothing particularly visible marks them out.

It's free to visit, and you can tackle it in around two hours round trip depending on your pace. Spring and autumn are best - muddy in winter, baking in high summer. If you're camping at Salisbury Hillside Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, just a mile away, this makes an easy day trip. The Meadow Glamping over at 4.5 miles would do nicely too if you want something less basic.

Families with older kids will enjoy it. Younger ones might find the walk a bit dull without a proper destination at the top - there's no cafe or facilities up there, just views. But for anyone staying in the area and wanting to stretch their legs with a proper outlook, it does the job well.