Westbury

The White Horse stretches across Bratton Down like a chalk giant refusing to be ignored. This ancient figure, cut into the hillside above Westbury, draws walkers up the steep track for views that sweep across the Wiltshire plain to Salisbury Cathedral on a clear day. Worth the climb.

Westbury itself sits in the valley below, a proper working town that doesn't put on airs for tourists. The high street has its charity shops and cafes, but it's the surrounding countryside that really delivers. Brokerswood Country Park offers gentle woodland walks through old railway cuttings, while the Fairfield Animal Centre keeps families happy with its collection of native wildlife.

Art lovers will find an unexpected cluster of galleries here. The Botanical Gallery and Abstract Print Gallery sit alongside Art Marine and Art of Illustration, creating a modest but serious creative quarter that feels genuine rather than contrived.

Round Wood provides deeper forest walks for those wanting to escape completely. The area attracts dog walkers - there's even a dedicated Dog Walking Field at Brokerswood and secure field hire at Widget's Farm for training sessions.

Trowbridge lies just six miles east if you need proper shopping or transport links. The M4 runs nearby, making this corner of Wiltshire surprisingly accessible from London in under two hours.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Westbury gives you easy access to both the White Horse and the broader Wiltshire countryside. Center Parcs Longleat Forest offers family facilities, while smaller sites like Hidden Wood Glamping and Yellowtail Camping provide quieter bases for exploring the downs and valleys that make this part of England so rewarding.