Weather Hill

The walk up Weather Hill from Pewsey gives you proper views across the Vale - the sort that make you understand why people settled this particular stretch of Wiltshire. It's not a dramatic peak by any stretch, more a steady climb that takes the better part of an hour depending on your pace, but the panorama at the top justifies the legwork.

You're looking south across farmland and down into the chalk valley, with the Marlborough Downs forming the horizon. Clear days reward you with surprising distance. The path itself is straightforward enough - well-trodden and clearly marked - though it can get muddy after rain, so decent boots are worth it.

This works best for walkers who like a half-day outing rather than a full expedition. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find the climb tedious without proper motivation (promise them the ice cream in Pewsey at the end). History buffs will appreciate the Bronze Age barrows dotting the surrounding landscape.

It's free to access, no facilities at the top, so bring water. Allow two to three hours round trip depending on how long you linger. If you're based at Totteridge Farm Camping Pods nearby - and it's a decent enough spot - Weather Hill makes an excellent morning or afternoon fill-in rather than a standalone destination. Combine it with a poke around Pewsey's High Street and you've got a solid day.