Motslow Hill Mound

There's an unexplained earthwork sitting quietly in the Warwickshire countryside near Coventry - a raised mound that's been there for centuries, and frankly, nobody's entirely sure who built it or why. Motslow Hill Mound is the kind of place that makes you stop and think. It's not a dramatic ruin or a museum piece. It's just a bump in the landscape, but that's rather the point.

Archaeologists reckon it could be anything from Iron Age to medieval, which tells you how little we actually know about it. What you get is a genuine archaeological puzzle - the sort of thing that appeals to history types and anyone tired of the over-interpreted tourist trail. Kids might find it underwhelming unless they're the sort who enjoy hunting for clues in the landscape.

Access details are thin on the ground - the Our Warwickshire website hosts information, but opening hours and admission fees aren't listed. You'll want to check before heading out. The mound itself is free to look at from the outside if it's accessible, though it pays to confirm the current situation locally.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Broadwell Woods is closest at just over four miles away, or Knight's Village near Warwick Castle if you want more facilities - Motslow Hill works as a short morning detour rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with a proper wander through the Warwickshire countryside and you've got something worth the effort. Allow 30 minutes unless you're seriously into archaeology.