River Hill

The walk up River Hill from Tunbridge Wells takes you through proper Sussex woodland before opening onto one of those viewpoints that actually justifies the climb. It's not dramatic - this is the South East, not the Lake District - but the rolling landscape spreading out below feels earned somehow, especially on a clear day when you can pick out the patchwork of farmland stretching towards the weald.

The hill itself is a steady pull from town, nothing that'll leave you gasping but enough to warm you up on a chilly morning. Most walkers knock it out as part of a longer loop rather than a standalone trip, which makes sense. It's the kind of place where you pause for five minutes, eat a sandwich, and carry on rather than settling in for hours.

This one's for walkers who know the Tunbridge Wells area well enough to string together a decent route - you won't want to drive out specifically for River Hill alone. If you're based at Apple Acres or Glamping at Honnington Farm though, it slots nicely into a day's wandering through the local footpaths. No facilities at the top, so bring water. Best visited when the weather's playing ball and visibility is decent; a grey, drizzly afternoon won't show it off to its best.

Kids will manage it fine if they're used to walking, though they might find the open-air sitting bit a touch dull unless you make it a treasure hunt through the trees on the way up.