Earl's Hill Nature Reserve

The walk up Earl's Hill takes about twenty minutes from the car park near Shrewsbury, and it's steep enough to get your heart going without being genuinely difficult. Once you're up there, the views across Shropshire unfold properly - countryside rolling away in every direction, with the Wrekin visible on a clear day.

It's a nature reserve, so you're here for the geology and wildlife rather than ruins or monuments. The hill itself is fascinating if you're into that sort of thing: ancient rock formations, scrubland, and birdsong. A proper walker's spot, this. Most people allow an hour to ninety minutes for the full circuit, which includes the summit and a loop back down through the woodland.

Families with young kids might find the climb a bit much unless they're keen hikers already. Teenagers and adults who actually enjoy being outdoors will get more from it. Bring proper shoes - it gets muddy and slippery after rain. Spring and early summer are best for the wildflowers and nesting birds, though autumn's got its own appeal when the bracken changes colour.

Being barely a mile from Shrewsbury town centre makes it an easy addition to a broader trip. Several caravan parks sit within striking distance - Spring Lea Holiday Park and Eastridge Glamping are closest at under two miles - so you can roll out of your pitch and be on the hill within ten minutes. Free to access, naturally, and there's a basic car park.