Weathercock Hill

The walk up Weathercock Hill near Wantage rewards you with one of those rare Berkshire vistas that actually justifies leaving the car. It's not dramatic - this is the Downs, not the Lake District - but on a clear day you get proper views across the Vale of White Horse that stretch for miles. The summit sits at around 260 metres, so it's a gentle climb rather than a proper slog, taking most people twenty minutes or so from the nearest parking.

What you're really after here is the sense of space. Standing up top, the landscape rolls away in soft greens and browns, with the White Horse visible on the far side of the vale if you know where to look. It's the kind of place that makes sense once you've walked it - less impressive from photographs, more rewarding in person. The actual trig point is modest, but the walk itself is the thing.

This suits walkers after an uncomplicated afternoon ramble far more than it suits thrill-seekers. Kids will manage it fine if they're capable of a gentle slope without complaining, though they won't get hours out of it. Budget ninety minutes total if you're taking your time and want to sit at the top with a thermos.

Stay at Evelyns Garden Glamping or Nordic Glamping at Botswicky - both are within spitting distance - and you've got a proper walking base for exploring the Downs properly. Pair it with the White Horse itself and you've got a solid morning's work.