Badbury Hill

You'll spot Badbury Hill from miles away - it's that distinctive Iron Age fort rising sharply from the Oxfordshire landscape near Faringdon, crowned with trees and visible from the A417. The National Trust runs it now, and there's a proper sense of standing somewhere genuinely ancient when you reach the top. The walk up takes about ten minutes if you're steady on your feet, though it's a fair climb and the path can get muddy. Once up there, you get sweeping views across the Vale of the White Horse, which frankly justifies the effort alone.

It's essentially an Iron Age hillfort with multiple ramparts still clearly visible - you can trace the defensive ditches and banks even if the fortifications have weathered two millennia. History enthusiasts will find it genuinely interesting, but be honest with yourself: there are no buildings, no artefacts on display, no audio guides. What you get is the landscape and the archaeology itself. Kids might manage it if they're keen walkers and you've built up the hype, but they could also find it a bit underwhelming - there's nothing hands-on, and you can't really do much once you've reached the top besides admire the view.

Admission's free through the National Trust. Time it for late afternoon when the light's better and Faringdon itself is close enough for a proper pit stop. Both Faringdon Grange and The Real Campsite sit within easy striking distance - this works well as a morning outing before settling into your holiday park for the afternoon.