Lord Hill's Column

Climb the 111 steps inside Lord Hill's Column and you'll understand why Shrewsbury built this thing in 1816. The view across Shropshire from the top is genuinely worth the huff and puff - flat fields rolling out towards Wales on a clear day. It's a sandstone tower stuck right on the edge of The Quarry, Shrewsbury's main park, so the setting itself is rather good.

The column commemorates General Rowland Hill, a local lad who did well in the Napoleonic Wars. Most people won't come here for the history lesson, though. They come to climb it. On a sunny afternoon it's rammed with families and school groups, all taking turns to spiral up those narrow stone steps. Takes about ten minutes if you're not stopping to catch your breath every other landing.

If you're camping at Cartref or Spring Lea nearby, it's worth a morning visit before the crowds arrive. Allow an hour maximum, unless you're the type to sit at the top sketching the view. The steps are tight and steep, so it's not ideal for young kids or anyone with dodgy knees. Adults and teenagers will find it straightforward enough.

The Quarry itself is free to wander and proper lovely - mature trees, grass, riverside walks along the Severn. The column is free to enter, which is fair enough for a quick leg-stretch on a park holiday. It's no Eiffel Tower moment, but it does exactly what it says on the tin: views, exercise, and a bit of local colour.