Durrington gorge

The River Avon has carved something rather special through the chalk downs near Salisbury. Durrington Gorge isn't a name you'll see plastered across tourist boards, but that's partly what makes it worth seeking out. The gorge itself - a dramatic dip in the landscape where the river has tunneled through white rock over millennia - sits just outside the village of Durrington, and it's the sort of place that rewards a decent walk to properly appreciate.

The approach involves proper footpaths across farmland, and once you're there, you're looking at steep chalk banks dropping down to the river below. It's all about the geology and the sheer drop of the landscape rather than any built attractions or facilities. No café, no visitor centre, just countryside that's been shaped by water and time.

Walkers will get the most from this. Bring decent boots - it can be muddy and the banks are fairly steep. The area around Durrington itself is chalk downland, so the scenery ties in nicely with the wider Salisbury Plain landscape. Given Stonehenge sits just a few miles north, you could string this into a proper outdoor day around the area. Stonehenge Campsite & Glamping (5.7 miles away) makes a solid base if you're planning several days of walking in Wiltshire.

Allow a couple of hours to properly explore. Best visited after dry weather when the paths aren't boggy. It's free access, being open countryside, though you'll want an OS map or a good GPS route planned out beforehand.