Lansdowne Monument

Standing alone on the Wiltshire chalk downs near Devizes, this obelisk commemorates the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne and cuts rather an odd figure against the open landscape. It's essentially a tall stone needle marking a spot that mattered politically in the 18th century - though most visitors today are walkers who stumble upon it by accident rather than pilgrims tracking down Georgian monuments.

What you actually do here is look at it, take a photo if you're that way inclined, and absorb the views across the downs. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, no café. It's refreshingly straightforward - just a monument and the landscape. Families with restless toddlers won't linger long; history enthusiasts or anyone doing the longer walking routes across the downs will find it a worthwhile pause point.

The real value lies in the walking. It sits naturally on routes between Devizes and the surrounding downland paths, making it sensible to incorporate into a longer day out rather than as a destination in itself. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Blackland Lakes is barely three miles away, Ridgeway Campsite under five - you could easily include it in a morning or afternoon ramble without special effort.

Allow twenty minutes to get up here and back down if you're coming from the road. Go on a clear day when the visibility makes the effort worthwhile. It's free, it's there, and it's a proper piece of Wiltshire landscape worth knowing about.