Devizes

Those thirty locks climbing Caen Hill like stone steps up to heaven tell you everything about this old market town's character. Engineering ambition made flesh in the 1800s, when the Kennet and Avon Canal carved its way through Wiltshire's rolling chalk downs. Watching narrowboats negotiate this magnificent flight remains one of England's finest canal spectacles.

The town itself has that solid, prosperous feel of somewhere that's never quite lost its way. Market Square still hosts a proper Thursday market, and the surrounding Georgian streets climb away from the canal in neat terraces. It's refreshingly unspoilt - no chain coffee shops dominating the high street here.

One Tree Hill offers cracking views across the Vale of Pewsey, while Stoke Hill and Rough Down provide gentle walking on the surrounding downland. The countryside here is classic Wiltshire: big skies, rolling fields, and those distinctive clumps of beech trees crowning the hilltops.

For a bit of peace, Drew's Pond makes a lovely spot for a picnic, tucked away in woodland that feels properly remote despite being just outside town. The nearby forests at Cheverell Wood and Hill Wood are perfect for longer rambles when you fancy stretching your legs.

Getting here is straightforward enough - the A361 runs straight through town, connecting to the M4 at junction 16. The railway station closed decades ago, but Swindon's only twenty minutes by car if you're arriving by train.

Staying at one of the local camping sites makes perfect sense for exploring both the town and the wider area. You're well-placed for day trips to Bath, Marlborough, or even Salisbury, while having this proper slice of rural Wiltshire right on your doorstep. The canal towpath alone gives you miles of level walking or cycling.