Lower Camp

Lower Camp is an Iron Age hill fort sitting just outside Shrewsbury, and frankly it's the sort of place that rewards a proper visit rather than a casual drive-by. You're looking at earthwork ramparts - those distinctive ditches and banks that mark where ancient people once built their defences. The site itself isn't signposted to death, which means you get a real sense of archaeology rather than a theme park version.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a stroll round a museum - you're actually scrambling up and round the earthworks, trying to imagine what life looked like two thousand years ago. Kids might find it interesting for twenty minutes or so, but they'll need to be the sort who enjoy open fields and historical puzzles rather than play equipment. Bring a decent map or download the location beforehand because finding it is half the adventure.

There's no visitor centre or admission fee that we're aware of - it's more of a free-range archaeological site. Give yourself an hour if you want to properly explore the ramparts and get your head round the layout. Spring Lea Holiday Park sits just 1.4 miles away, which makes Lower Camp a logical half-day excursion if you're based at one of the Shrewsbury caravan parks. It pairs well with the town itself - only a short drive - if you want a bit more substance to your day out. Worth the detour if Iron Age forts genuinely interest you; less compelling if you're just ticking boxes.