Denny Sutton Hipend

The walk up to Denny Sutton Hipend, just outside Marlborough, is straightforward chalk downland rambling - nothing technical, nothing dramatic, but that's rather the point. You're on the ridge with proper views across the Wiltshire plains, the kind of spot where you can see for miles on a clear day and wonder why you haven't bothered to come here before.

It's a walker's destination pure and simple. History types might enjoy the Bronze Age barrow that sits up here, though there's not much to look at if you're expecting earthworks and interpretation boards - you'll need to know what you're looking at. Kids will manage the walk fine on a dry day, but they won't find much to occupy them once they reach the top beyond "look how far we can see". That said, if they're the scrambling type and you catch it after rain, the muddy sections add a bit of adventure.

Allow a couple of hours from Marlborough town centre - it's a decent hike but not punishing. Free to access, obviously, being open downland. Time your visit for late afternoon and you'll avoid the heat; mornings can be bitingly cold even in summer.

If you're based at one of the nearby farms - Hillview Park or Totteridge are close - this makes a proper half-day activity without needing to venture far. Ridgeway Campsite, further out at 5.6 miles, gives you access to broader walks across the downs, so Denny Sutton works well as part of something longer rather than a destination in itself.