Six Hills

Rolling across a field east of Hitchin, six Bronze Age burial mounds rise from the Hertfordshire countryside like lumps of ancient memory. You won't find manicured paths or interpretive boards here - these are the real thing, untouched and honestly a bit underwhelming at first glance. But stand among them and the age of it hits you. These barrows date back around 3,500 years, and people were depositing their dead here when Britain was still very much a frontier.

It's a walker's stop rather than a destination unto itself. The site sits openly on farmland, and you can access it without paying anything or dealing with gate attendants. Allow yourself thirty minutes to circle the mounds and imagine the ceremonies that took place here. History buffs will get more from it than families with restless kids - there's nothing to climb on or touch, and the view, while pleasant, won't hold small children's attention for long.

Combine it with a proper walk through the surrounding countryside. Hitchin itself is a handsome market town with decent pubs if you need lunch afterwards. If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks like Jacks Hill or Church Farm Ardeley, this makes an easy afternoon excursion. Don't expect Stonehenge-level drama, but if you're into Iron Age archaeology and don't mind a muddy field, it's worth the detour. Just check the weather first - after rain, it's a bog.