Stoke Hill

The walk up Stoke Hill rewards you with proper views across the Wiltshire downs - a short, sharp climb that takes maybe twenty minutes from the base if you're reasonably fit. It's not a mountain, mind you. The hill itself is modest, the sort of local spot where locals actually go rather than tourists chasing Instagram moments, which is rather nice.

From the top you get a genuine sense of the Devizes landscape - rolling chalk downland stretching away, and on a clear day the visibility is decent enough to make the effort worthwhile. The walk itself is straightforward; no scrambling or technical bits, just steady gradient through grassland. Families with older kids (say, eight and up) will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the climb tedious. Walkers treating this as part of a longer route through the downs will get the most from it.

It's free, obviously. No facilities at the top - bring water if it's warm. Allow about an hour round trip if you're taking it easy and want to sit at the summit for a bit. Early morning or late afternoon light is best; the hill faces nicely then.

If you're based at one of the nearby camping spots - Country View is closest at 3.5 miles - this makes a decent morning walk before heading into Devizes for lunch. It's the sort of place that works well as part of a broader walking day rather than a destination in itself, but it's worth the detour if you're already in the area.