The Ercall

The Ercall rises abruptly from the Shropshire landscape near Coalbrookdale, a proper little hill that punches above its weight. At 300 metres it's hardly a mountain, but the walk up rewards you with views across the Ironbridge Gorge and beyond - on a clear day you can see into Wales. The summit is relatively modest, just a grassy top with a trig point, but the geology around you tells the real story. This is ancient volcanic rock, and if you're into that sort of thing, the exposed stone faces and quarried sections make it genuinely interesting.

The walk itself takes about an hour from Coalbrookdale, following a clear path that gets steep near the top - nothing technical, but definitely noticeable on the legs. Families with younger kids might find the final push a bit much, though teenagers will manage fine. The real draw is the walk itself rather than a destination experience. There's no café or facilities at the top, just open air and a decent panorama.

Absolutely worth combining with the Ironbridge Gorge museums if you're staying in the area - you could knock this out in a morning and spend the afternoon exploring the historical sites. Both Irongorge Camping and Sytche Caravan Park are well-positioned for it, putting you right on the doorstep. Free to visit, naturally. Go on a weekday if you can - weekends bring a fair few walkers, which rather spoils the sense of getting away from it all.