Collingtree Hill

The walk up Collingtree Hill doesn't take long, but it's one of those spots that gives you proper views across Northamptonshire without needing to be a fell walker. You're looking at gentle slopes rather than anything steep - the kind of walk families with primary-school kids actually complete without hearing complaints for the entire journey back.

Once you reach the top, the landscape opens out. On a clear day you can see for miles across the East Midlands plains. It's not dramatic like the Cotswolds, but there's something satisfying about standing higher than the surrounding farmland and watching the countryside roll away from you.

The appeal here is straightforward: it's accessible. You don't need special kit, and it's close enough to Northampton that you can pop up for an hour after breakfast. History buffs might appreciate that this area has Roman heritage - the whole region has that layer - but Collingtree Hill itself is more about the walking and the view than archaeological interest.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Blisworth Park or The Home Farm CL, this works as a morning excursion before heading into Northampton proper or exploring the Nene Valley. It's the sort of thing that fills a gap in your itinerary rather than something you'd plan a trip around.

Go when the weather's settled. When it's grey and drizzly, you might drive up, see nothing much, and wonder why you bothered.