Black Hill

The walk up Black Hill takes about forty minutes from the car park near Craven Arms, and frankly it's one of those Shropshire summits that rewards the effort without demanding mountaineering skills. The views from the top sweep across the Long Mynd and down towards Wales - on a clear day you can see for miles across proper rolling country.

It's a straightforward hike, well-trodden underfoot, with a mix of woodland and open moorland. The path is steep in stretches but nothing technical. You'll pass through bracken and heather that turns spectacular in late summer, and if you time it right you'll catch the light hitting the valleys below just as it starts to soften towards evening. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the final push a bit much on tired legs.

What makes it worth the trip is how little fuss it requires. No visitor centre, no entrance fee, just a straightforward fell walk that feels properly wild for the Midlands. Allow two to three hours if you're taking photographs or stopping for breath - and you will. The wind can be bracing at the summit, so bring layers even if it's warm below.

If you're staying at one of the glamping sites scattered around the Shropshire Hills - Offa's Pitch or Wild Valley are close by - Black Hill works as an excellent morning before heading to the Long Mynd proper. It's the kind of walk that clears your head without exhausting you, leaving the afternoon free for exploring Craven Arms or the quieter corners of the borderlands.