Farleigh Hungerford Castle

The ruins sit on a gentle slope just outside Trowbridge, and you'll spot the gatehouse long before you reach the entrance - a proper medieval structure that's somehow survived six centuries of English weather. Farleigh Hungerford Castle is what remains of a 14th-century stronghold, and while it's not Warwick or Kenilworth, there's something rather affecting about walking through the crumbling stone walls knowing the Hungerford family held real power here once.

You get two courts - inner and outer - which gives you a decent sense of scale. The gatehouse is the star attraction, still standing with proper teeth-like crenellations, and the chapel's worth a look for its medieval wall paintings if you're into that sort of thing. Don't expect a grand tour with costumed guides; this is archaeology, not entertainment. History types will spend a solid hour here, photographers another, but families with young children might find it a bit skeletal after twenty minutes - there's not much to actively do beyond walk about and imagine.

It's free to visit, which helps. English Heritage manages the site, so standards are decent. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, longer if you're taking proper photos. Summer's best - the grounds are grassy and pleasant, not muddy. Winter visits are atmospheric but can feel bleak.

Stowford Manor Farm, barely half a mile away in Trowbridge, makes an obvious camping base. From there you can tackle this in the morning and still have time for the other local walks. It's worth the detour if you're doing the broader Wiltshire circuit.