Site of Lord Bacon's Mount

The mound rises rather abruptly from the flat Hertfordshire landscape, a grassy bump that most people driving past St Albans would never notice. This is Lord Bacon's Mount, an Iron Age earthwork that's been standing for roughly 2,500 years, though exactly what it was originally built for remains genuinely unclear - defensive position, ceremonial space, burial mound, or something else entirely.

What you get is a short walk to the top, decent views across the surrounding countryside, and a tangible sense of standing on something genuinely ancient. It's not dramatic or particularly high, but there's something rather satisfying about climbing onto a structure that's been here since before the Romans arrived. The site is free and accessible, which counts for something.

This works best for archaeology enthusiasts or walkers who appreciate the smaller, less obvious stuff. Families with young children might manage it, though there's no interpretation board and the mound itself doesn't take long to explore. If you're staying at Frogmore Park Homes or Cherry Green Trees nearby, it's worth an afternoon detour combined with a proper look around Verulamium's remains and the museum in St Albans itself - that's where you'll actually understand what you're looking at.

The walk from St Albans takes about thirty minutes on foot. Go on a clear day if you can. The views are better and you won't feel like you've wasted a trip.