Oswestry Old Racecourse Common Heritage Site

The old racecourse on the common outside Oswestry is one of those places that rewards you for getting lost on a country drive. What was once the thundering heart of Welsh racing - hosting crowds in their thousands back in the day - is now a wide, open stretch of grassland where the most exciting thing you'll see is probably a kestrel hunting over the rough ground. The turf still bears the ghost of its former glory: if you know where to look, you can make out the line of the old track, though it takes some imagination to picture the pageantry that once filled this space.

It's the sort of landmark that appeals more to history types and walkers than to families wanting a day out. There's no visitor centre, no interpretive boards, no café - it's just you and the landscape, which is precisely why some people will find it brilliant and others will wonder what the fuss is about. On a clear day the views across towards the Berwyns are excellent, and the walk itself is straightforward enough. Allow an hour if you're dawdling, less if you just want a quick look.

Staying at Sweeney Farm Glamping or Fairhaven - both within four miles - makes sense if you're building a longer break around Oswestry and the local walks. The common slots nicely into a morning ramble before heading into town. Free to visit, naturally, since it's common land. Go when the weather's decent: the exposed hilltop can be bleak and muddy in winter.