Worcestershire Beacon

Gasping for breath at 1,394 feet up, you'll understand why locals call this the roof of the Malverns. Worcestershire Beacon rewards the steep climb with proper panoramic views that stretch across three counties on clear days - you can spot the Cotswolds rolling east and the Welsh mountains rising west.

Serious walkers will love the challenge, though the final push to the trig point is a proper leg-burner. Families with older children (say 10+) can manage it, but expect complaints from younger ones. The path from the car park near Great Malvern takes about 45 minutes of steady climbing.

What makes this worth the effort is the 360-degree vista from the summit. On crisp winter mornings, the views are spectacular - though summer brings crowds that can spoil the sense of solitude. The beacon itself is just a triangulation point, so don't expect facilities up top.

For those staying at holiday parks around Malvern, this makes an excellent morning expedition before returning to base. Oakmere Parks and Malvern Hills Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite are both under three miles away, making it dead easy to incorporate into a Malvern Hills break. Just pack layers - it's always windier up here than you think.