Ventnor Downs

The chalk cliffs south of Ventnor drop away sharply, and up on top of them sits one of the Isle of Wight's finest stretches of downland. Ventnor Downs is a National Trust property where the walking is genuinely excellent - proper windswept ridgeline stuff with views across the Channel that go on for miles when the weather plays ball.

What you're walking through is chalk grassland dotted with wildflowers, particularly impressive in spring and early summer when the place becomes a riot of orchids, vetches and bird's-foot trefoil. The cliff paths themselves are well-maintained and clearly marked, though the wind can be fierce, especially if you're out here in winter. Allow a good two hours minimum to make sense of the place - rushing it misses the point entirely.

Walkers will absolutely get the most from this. The terrain isn't taxing but the exposure and open vistas mean it feels more adventurous than the gentle gradients suggest. Families with young children might find an hour sufficient, though older kids with decent stamina will relish the ridge-top scrambling. Birdwatchers come for the summer migrants and overwintering species.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Sandhills just six miles north, or Warren Hill Camp at the same distance - this makes a cracking half-day outing. The admission is free, which is proper generous from the Trust. Go on a clear day if you can; the views are the whole point here, and drizzle renders the experience considerably less thrilling.