Kingsthorpe Heights

The highest point in Northamptonshire doesn't announce itself with fanfare. Kingsthorpe Heights sits at just over 680 feet, which frankly won't impress anyone who's spent time in actual mountains, but it's genuinely the best vantage point across the county if you're based around Northampton. The walk up is straightforward - nothing teeth-grindingly steep - and the views across the Nene Valley really do open out once you get up there. On a clear day you can see for miles. It's the kind of spot walkers use to get their bearings rather than their adrenaline pumping.

Families with kids under ten might find it underwhelming after twenty minutes. There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities - it's just a hillside with a decent outlook. But for serious walkers tackling longer routes through the county, or anyone keen on understanding Northamptonshire's landscape, it's absolutely worth the detour. The proximity to Northampton (just outside the NN3 postcode) means you won't waste time getting there.

If you're staying at one of the local caravan parks - Billing Aquadrome is closest at 3.7 miles, with Sandy Hill Farm even nearer at 2.4 miles - Kingsthorpe Heights works well as a morning leg-stretch rather than a full day out. Pair it with a walk around Sywell Country Park (4.5 miles away) or Overstone Lakes if you want something more rounded. Free, obviously. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're not a dawdler.