New Farm Hill

The walk up New Farm Hill takes about twenty minutes from the Cambridge side, and the effort pays off once you're standing at the top looking back across the Cam Valley. It's not dramatic - Cambridgeshire doesn't do drama - but the view settles on you quietly. You can see for miles on a clear day, which is precisely why people have climbed this modest rise for centuries.

This is proper walking country rather than a destination attraction. Families with older kids will enjoy the leg-stretch; younger ones might find the ascent a slog without a proper payoff at the summit. There's no café or facilities up here, just grass and sky and the satisfaction of having got somewhere on foot. Allow an hour return trip if you're not rushing.

The real value shows itself if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Shepreth Mill or Guilden Gate Glamping are both within striking distance. Use it as part of a broader ramble through the Cambridgeshire countryside rather than a standalone trip. The walk itself winds through decent terrain and connects to broader footpath networks, so you're not retracing your steps unless you want to.

Go early if you can. Late afternoon light across the valley is lovely, but you'll have company if the weather's turned nice. Wellies useful after rain - the ground gets boggy.