West Hill Hillfort

The ramparts are still there, rising from the grassland like a memory the earth won't quite let go. West Hill Hillfort sits above Wooler in Northumberland, a proper Iron Age settlement that's held its ground for nearly 3,000 years. You're looking at concentric defensive ditches and banks - the sort of place where Britons dug in hard against whatever came their way.

It's not a massive site, which honestly works in its favour. You can walk the perimeter in under an hour, and the views north across the Cheviot foothills are worth the climb alone. There's no visitor centre, no café, no interpretation boards telling you what to think - just archaeological earthworks and your imagination filling in the blanks. That suits some people perfectly; others find it a bit sparse.

History types will appreciate the straightforward defensive design. Walkers get a decent leg-stretch with proper views. Kids might manage twenty minutes before asking when you're heading back down. The site's free to access, which is the way it should be.

For a caravan park stay in the area, Highburn House is the one to aim for - 4.8 miles away and rated accordingly. Pair it with a walk across to West Hill on a clear morning, then push on towards the Cheviots proper if you've got the legs for it. Wooler itself sits just down the slope, useful for grabbing lunch or coffee when you're done exploring.