The Knapp

The Knapp sits just north of Watlington and gives you proper views across the Chilterns - the sort of perspective that makes you understand why people bothered settling here centuries ago. It's a modest peak by most standards, but that's rather the point. No cable cars, no visitor centres, no queues. Just a walk up open ground to a trig point and the kind of panorama that justifies leaving the car.

The summit itself is accessible enough for most abilities, though the path can be muddy after rain and it's steeper than it looks from below. Allow 45 minutes up and back from the car park, longer if you're taking in the surrounding countryside. Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might find the exposed hilltop a bit dull once they've caught their breath - there's not much to do except look.

It works brilliantly as a morning outing before heading to one of the nearby parks - White Mark Glamping is barely two miles away, or Home Farm Camping just over four. The walk clears your head before settling into a longer holiday. Go early if you can. Late afternoon light is lovely, but weekends bring out the local dog walkers and the spell breaks a bit. Free to access, naturally. No facilities on the hill itself, so bring water.