National Trust - Bickerton Hill

The sandstone ridge of Bickerton Hill rises suddenly from the Cheshire plains, and it's worth the short drive from Chester to understand why locals have been making for it for centuries. This National Trust reserve sits at around 450 metres - not mountains exactly, but enough to give proper views across the Mid Cheshire landscape and into Wales on a clear day.

The main appeal here is walking. There are several paths crisscrossing the hill itself, ranging from gentle loops around the lower slopes to steeper climbs that'll get your heart going. The terrain's mixed - woodland sections with beech and oak, open grassland at the top, and scattered rock outcrops that kids find irresistible for scrambling. Allow two to three hours for a decent circular walk, or just an hour if you're after the quick ridge-top viewpoint and a scout around.

It works brilliantly alongside the holiday parks nearby - Pitch & Canvas and Bradley Hall Rural Escapes are barely ten minutes away, so you can base yourselves there and use Bickerton as a morning jaunt before heading elsewhere. The walk suits families reasonably well, though younger legs might need a hand on the steeper bits. History types will find prehistoric earthworks and hints of ancient settlement, though nothing dramatic to stare at.

Admission is free - it's an open access site run by the National Trust. Spring's exceptional for wildflowers and birdsong, while autumn gives you clearer views and fewer midges. Worth going. Not a full-day affair, but a proper Cheshire walk that actually feels a bit special.