Welcombe Hills Obelisk

You can see this needle of stone rising above the Welcombe Hills from miles around Stratford-upon-Avon, and it's worth the pilgrimage to find out why someone bothered to build it up here in the first place. The obelisk stands 60 feet tall, erected in 1758 as a memorial to the Wellcome family - a proper piece of Georgian pomposity plonked on top of the ridge. The walk up from the car park takes fifteen minutes, maybe twenty if you're not keen on climbs, but the views across Warwickshire once you get there are genuinely superb on a clear day.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate the story - it's connected to local gentry who clearly had money to spare and wanted everyone to know it. But this isn't a place you'll spend hours investigating. It's a landmark to tick off, a spot for photographs, and an excuse to get out of Stratford-upon-Avon's crowded town centre. The walk itself is pleasant enough if you don't mind the gradient, winding through woodland before opening out to the view.

Allow an hour round trip from the nearest car park. Best visited on a weekday morning if you want relative peace. If you're glamping at Wootton Park, it's a short drive north and makes a decent outing when the weather's behaving. Free to visit, as with most country landmarks. Don't expect facilities - bring water and proper boots.