Lardon Chase

The chalky bulk of Lardon Chase rises sharply above the Thames Valley, offering one of those walks that makes you remember why you bothered to come to Oxfordshire in the first place. It's a proper hill fort - Iron Age, if you're into that sort of thing - and you can still make out the defensive ditches and ramparts if you know where to look. Most visitors don't, mind you. They just come for the views.

From the top, you get the Wallingford side spread out below you, fields rolling away in that soft green way the Home Counties do. On a clear day it's genuinely good - nowhere near as crowded as Box Hill or the more famous Chiltern spots, which is rather the point.

The walk up takes about twenty minutes from the nearest car park, depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. It's steep but short, and the path is well-trodden enough that you won't go astray. Walkers will absolutely get value from it; kids under ten might lose patience before the summit. There's nothing to do once you're up there except stand about and admire the view, so bring a snack if you want to linger.

Free access, as these chalk hills tend to be. If you're based at Rolling Fields Glamping or Ridgeway View Campsite nearby, it's a decent half-morning activity before heading back for lunch. Worth combining with a walk along the Ridgeway itself if you've got the legs for it.