Bussock Camp

There's not much to look at when you first arrive at Bussock Camp near Thatcham - just open grassland with low earthworks and the odd interpretive board if you're lucky. But that's rather the point. This Iron Age hill fort sits quietly on the Berkshire downs, and once you understand what you're standing on, it becomes genuinely absorbing.

The camp itself dates back around 2,500 years, when someone decided this particular spot was worth defending. The defensive ditches and banks are still visible if you know where to look, and on a clear day the views across the surrounding landscape give you a real sense of why Bronze and Iron Age peoples chose their settlements so carefully. There's something properly grounding about standing on ground that's held human significance for millennia.

History enthusiasts will find it worthwhile, though families with young kids might need setting expectations - there's no visitor centre or gift shop, just archaeology in its rawest form. Allow an hour for a proper walk around the site and to actually read what the information boards tell you. It's free, which is excellent, and worth combining with the nearby Rhodeside Caravan and Motorhome Club if you're base camping in the area.

Go in spring or autumn when the grass is manageable underfoot and you won't be battling midges. Summer can be overgrown, and winter muddles the earthworks visually. It's a solid addition to a Berkshire walking holiday rather than a reason to visit on its own, but don't skip it if you're nearby.