Northampton Heights

The highest point in Northamptonshire isn't exactly dramatic - Northampton Heights reaches 680 feet, which means you won't need mountaineering boots or a packed rope. But that's rather the point. It's a proper local walk that gives you genuine views across the East Midlands countryside without the pretence.

You get a real sense of the landscape from up here, especially on clear days when you can see a fair stretch across Northamptonshire. The walk itself is straightforward, making it ideal for families who want a gentle ramble, or older children learning to navigate. It's the sort of place where you'll see locals with their dogs rather than queues of day-trippers.

Given the modest elevation, allow 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace and whether you potter about taking photos. Spring and autumn are cracking times to visit - you'll avoid the mugginess of summer and the occasional waterlogged paths of winter.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Billing Aquadrome is barely two miles away, while Overstone Lakes sits just under four miles south - this works well as a morning activity before you head to the water sports or just settle in by the caravan. It's not a day-long attraction, but it's exactly what a good walk should be: unpretentious, achievable, and a genuine bit of local Northamptonshire rather than another Instagram tick-box.