Kenwood Viewpoint

Climb up to Kenwood and you're rewarded with one of those views that makes the effort worthwhile - proper rolling Hertfordshire countryside stretching out in front of you, with London's skyline sitting on the horizon like a smudge of grey. It's not dramatic in the Alpine sense, but on a clear day there's something genuinely good about standing here and realising how much green sits between the capital and the countryside proper.

The viewpoint itself is straightforward. You walk, you arrive, you look. No visitor centre, no café, just the view and whatever company you've brought. Walkers get the most from this one - it slots nicely into a longer ramble rather than being a destination in itself. Families with older kids will find it worth the trek; younger ones might lose patience without a bit of narrative about what they're seeing (spot the Shard, that sort of thing).

It's a free stop, takes maybe twenty minutes to absorb properly, though you can dash up and dash back if you're pressed. Early morning or late afternoon light transforms it - the golden hour stuff actually works here. If you're staying at Elstree Park or anywhere round Hertfordshire, it's absolutely the kind of spot to break up a weekend, especially if the weather's playing ball. Wind can be sharp up there, mind. Bring a jacket.