Overton Hill

The walk up Overton Hill, just outside Marlborough, rewards you with proper views across the Wiltshire downs. It's not a dramatic peak - we're talking chalk grassland, not Alpine drama - but that's rather the point. The ridge path here forms part of the ancient Ridgeway, so you're literally treading where people have walked for thousands of years.

What makes it worthwhile is the walking itself. The route is straightforward and takes about an hour up and back from the nearest car park, with the gradient steady rather than punishing. On a clear day you get unobstructed sight lines across the downs towards the Vale of Pewsey. Historians will appreciate the Iron Age fort traces scattered about, though you need to know what you're looking for. Kids won't complain about the climb, but they may lose interest once they reach the top unless you've got a picnic planned.

It's free, obviously - just park sensibly and go. Best visited in spring or early autumn when the grass is alive and the light isn't washed out by summer haze. Winter can be muddy and bleak, which some walkers prefer. If you're camping at Ridgeway Campsite just down the road, this is practically on your doorstep. Combine it with a walk along the full Ridgeway for a proper day out, or use it as a morning leg before heading into Marlborough for lunch. Don't expect isolation - this is well-trodden ground - but that's because it's genuinely good.