Crock Hill

The walk up Crock Hill rewards you with proper views across Wiltshire's chalk downlands - the sort of landscape that makes you understand why people fought over this corner of England for thousands of years. It's not a dramatic peak, but that's rather the point. The climb is gentle enough that families with older kids won't struggle, though the wind can be fierce once you're up there.

From the top you get a real sense of the Salisbury Plain spreading out beneath you, and on a clear day the vista stretches far enough to make the effort worthwhile. The walking itself is straightforward - nothing technical, just good downland paths. Allow an hour to get up and back down, longer if you're stopping to take photos or bring a packed lunch to eat at the summit.

It works well as part of a walking holiday in the area. The Salisbury region has plenty of decent campsites within striking distance - Green Hill Farm Holiday Village and Longbeech Campsite are both close enough for a morning or afternoon outing without eating up half your day. If you're basing yourself further out, even Ashurst or Matley Wood are manageable for a weekend jaunt.

This is one for walkers rather than thrill-seekers, and history types will appreciate standing on land that's been walked for millennia. Bring layers - exposure up top can be brutal. Best visited outside school holidays when you won't be treading on a hundred other people's heels.