Wheathampstead By-pass

The earthworks here aren't much to look at from the road, but they mark something genuinely significant - the site of a proper Iron Age hillfort that once dominated the landscape east of St Albans. What you're walking across is roughly two thousand years of history compressed into a few grassy bumps and ditches, though it takes a bit of imagination to see the defensive ramparts as they once stood.

This is one for the archaeology enthusiasts rather than casual visitors. The site itself is free to access and you can wander the fields year-round, but there's no visitor centre or interpretation boards to guide you - you'll either need to do your homework beforehand or bring an archaeology book. Allow an hour if you're genuinely interested, twenty minutes if you're just curious about what all the fuss is.

Families with older kids who've got a bit of history under their belts might find it worthwhile, though younger ones will probably get bored once they've run around the bumps once. It works better as part of a broader St Albans trip - the Roman Verulamium Museum in town tells the story of what happened after the Iron Age Britons lost control.

If you're based at Cherry Green Trees or Commons Wood Caravan sites nearby, it's worth a morning walk rather than a destination in itself. Decent footpaths connect to the surrounding farmland, so you can make a proper outing of it rather than just standing around wondering where the hillfort actually was.