West Wycombe Park

The hill itself is the draw here - a steep chalk ridge that climbs up through beech woodland just outside Marlow. West Wycombe Park isn't some manicured visitor attraction with a café and gift shop; it's a proper nature reserve where you come to walk, breathe in the trees, and not see many other people.

The landscape shifts as you climb. Start in the thick beech hangers at the base, then emerge onto open grassland where you get views across the Chilterns. The walking is straightforward if you're reasonably fit, though the incline is genuine - about 20 minutes from the car park to the top if you're pushing it. Worth the effort for the perspective you gain over the valley and, on a clear day, across to the Thames.

Historians and walkers will get the most from this. Families with young children might find the steep bits tedious, though older kids who enjoy the outdoors will love it. There's no facilities to speak of - bring your own water. Timing-wise, spring and autumn are loveliest; summer can feel muggy among the trees.

If you're camping nearby - Bella Vista or Chiltern Retreat are both close - this makes a cracking half-day walk that doesn't require leaving the area. It's the sort of place you visit for the doing rather than the seeing, which suits a proper Chilterns holiday perfectly. Admission appears to be free, which keeps things simple.