Forest Park Viewing Point

The view from Forest Park Viewing Point sprawls across Staffordshire in a way that properly justifies the walk up. On a clear day you're looking out over rolling woodland, and you can pick out industrial landmarks that remind you this is proper Potteries country - Stoke-on-Trent sits not far off, and there's something rather satisfying about seeing the old heartland of British pottery spread out below you.

It's a straightforward stop rather than a destination that'll occupy your whole afternoon. Twenty minutes to half an hour, tops, unless you're the type who likes to sit with a flask and watch the light change. The walk to get here matters more than the viewing platform itself - it's decent enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find it a bit of a drag if they're not keen walkers.

The real appeal is what it offers between visits to the caravan sites dotted around this corner of the Midlands. If you're based at Luzlow, Glamping at Holly Grove Farm, or one of the others within a few miles, this makes a solid morning jaunt to stretch the legs and get some elevation. The woodland itself is pleasant enough in any season, though autumn turns it genuinely lovely.

No admission fee as far as can be established - it's a public space - which keeps things straightforward. Just check the weather before you head up; the views are genuine only when you can actually see them.