Quarley Hill

The walk up Quarley Hill takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and it's a proper slog - the kind of climb that leaves you breathing hard but grinning when you crest the top. What you get for that effort is a commanding view across the Wiltshire chalk downs, rolling away toward Salisbury and beyond. On a clear day the visibility is excellent, though I'd not call it dramatic - it's more understated English countryside rolling out in soft greens and browns.

This works best for walkers who appreciate the journey as much as the destination. Families with young kids might find the steep bit frustrating, though older ones will manage fine. History buffs should know there's an Iron Age hill fort up here - the earthworks are still visible if you know what you're looking for, though they're subtle compared to more obvious sites elsewhere on the Salisbury Plain.

There's no visitor facility or admission charge - just park up and walk. Allow a good hour if you're not rushing, longer if you want to potter about at the summit. The ground can be muddy after rain, so decent boots matter.

Stay at Salisbury Hillside Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, just four miles away, and you've got easy access to this and dozens of other chalk downland walks. Quarley Hill itself isn't a showstopper destination, but it's well worth including in a broader walking itinerary around the area.