Maes Down

A proper walk to earn your view - that's what Maes Down delivers. This Somerset peak sits above Castle Cary, and the climb rewards you with the sort of panorama that makes you understand why people get sentimental about the West Country. On a clear day you're scanning across rolling farmland and distant horizons that stretch on and on.

The walk itself is straightforward but genuine. No cable car, no visitor centre, just your legs and whatever the weather throws at you. Allow a couple of hours there and back depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. It's the kind of place where you can actually think, which counts for something these days.

Solitary walkers and serious ramblers get the most from it. Families with small children might find it a bit much - the payoff is the view rather than any attractions on the ground. Spring and autumn are your best bets weatherwise, though even a grey day has its appeal if you're after solitude.

If you're basing yourself at somewhere like Hadspen Glamping, just five miles down the road, Maes Down makes a solid half-day expedition. It slots nicely into a broader walking holiday across Somerset without demanding a full day's commitment. Castle Cary itself is close enough for supplies and a decent pub lunch afterwards.