Fox Hill

The walk up Fox Hill takes about twenty minutes from Daventry, and it's one of those modest peaks that rewards you far more than the climb warrants. The summit sits at 225 metres - hardly Alpine, but from up there you get proper views across Northamptonshire's gentle rolling countryside, with Daventry's water reservoir glinting below and the horizon stretching clear on a decent day.

It's a straightforward ramble, well-trodden and suitable for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the final push a bit steep. The real appeal is the walking itself rather than any dramatic summit monument - just open grassland and the genuine sense of having reached something. Allow an hour or so for a leisurely circuit if you're exploring the surrounding footpaths.

This works nicely as a morning outing if you're based at one of the nearby camps - Hideaway Wood Farm and Magic Mushroom Cabin are both close enough for a quick escape without faffing about in the car for hours. Whitefeather Campsite is practically on the doorstep. The walk is free, naturally, and there's no real commercial infrastructure up top, so bring your own water and snacks.

Go when Daventry isn't too busy with visitors - spring and early autumn work well. Winter can be muddy, summer occasionally crowded. It's honest country walking rather than a dramatic countryside experience, but that's precisely why it works. No pretence, no crowds, just a proper hill walk with a view.