Warminster

Chalk downs roll away in every direction here, their soft curves broken by ancient burial mounds and Iron Age hill forts. Warminster sits snugly in a valley where the River Were winds through, while above it the hills of western Wiltshire stretch to the horizon.

Cley Hill dominates the eastern skyline - a proper climb but well worth it for views that take in three counties on a clear day. The hill fort crowning its summit dates back over 2,000 years, and you can still make out the defensive earthworks. Little Cley Hill offers a gentler alternative, while Cold Kitchen Hill and Charnage Down provide different perspectives across this ancient landscape.

The town itself keeps quietly busy. Market square fills with stalls on Fridays, and the high street has that pleasantly unhurried feel that comes with being just far enough from major cities. Bath lies 25 miles northeast, Salisbury about the same distance southeast.

Longleat Safari Park sprawls across the countryside just south of town - one of England's most famous stately homes with lions padding across the grounds where deer once grazed. The surrounding Longleat Forest offers miles of walking trails and cycle paths through mixed woodland.

Getting here means the A36 from Bath or Salisbury, or the train from London Waterloo via Salisbury - about two hours door to door. The station sits a short walk from the town centre.

With Center Parcs Longleat Forest and several smaller parks dotted around the area, staying locally gives you a perfect base for exploring these downs without the hassle of daily drives. You can walk straight from your lodge into countryside that's barely changed since Hardy wrote about it.