Chill Hill

The walk up Chill Hill from Wokingham takes about twenty minutes if you're ambling, less if you've got proper leg power. It's not dramatic - the South East doesn't do drama in the vertical sense - but on a clear day you get views across to Reading and beyond, which is more than you'd expect from something called a peak around here.

What you're really after is the perspective. From the top, the landscape fans out properly: farmland, suburban sprawl, the odd church spire. It's the kind of walk local families do on a weekend, nothing that requires special kit or mountain sense. The path's straightforward enough, though it can get muddy after rain.

If you're staying at Wellington Country Park nearby - genuinely worth a visit in itself with the lake and woodland - Chill Hill makes a decent morning outing before heading back for lunch. Same goes if you're at California Chalet. The walk won't take long enough to be its own day out, mind you. It's best paired with other bits and pieces in the area.

Walkers after proper views will find this a touch underwhelming. But if you want a gentle climb that rewards you without asking much in return, it does the job. Go on a weekday if you can - weekends bring the full population of South East England and the charm evaporates pretty quickly.