Hod Hill (National Trust)

The iron age fort crowning Hod Hill rises sharply above the Blackmore Vale, and the climb pays for itself within seconds of reaching the top. You're standing on ramparts that locals have scrambled over for nearly 3,000 years - the Romans couldn't resist it either, plonking a fort right in the middle during their Dorset campaign.

It's a proper walk up. The slopes are steep enough that you'll feel it in your thighs, but the views across to Shaftesbury and beyond make the huffing worthwhile. On a clear day the visibility stretches for miles. The earthworks themselves are dramatic - multiple rings of ditches and banks that speak to Iron Age engineering, even if the Romans did mess about with it all. There's no visitor centre or interpretation boards, which is either refreshingly honest or frustratingly vague depending on your temperament.

Walkers and history types will get the most from this one. Kids can do it if they're old enough for a steep scramble, but there's nothing to actually do once you've reached the summit beyond standing there feeling windswept. Allow two hours if you're poking about and taking photos. It's free, naturally - National Trust land.

If you're based at Gold Hill Glamping nearby, this sits perfectly into a walking day around Shaftesbury. Combine it with the town itself - Gold Hill Street is genuinely worth seeing - and you've got a solid afternoon sorted. Spring or autumn is best; summer can be muggy up there with no shade.