Northumberlandia Heel

You're essentially walking up an enormous human-shaped landform - that's what Northumberlandia is. Near Morpeth in Northumberland, this 34-metre-high sculpture was created from colliery spoil and landscaped into the figure of a reclining woman. Free to visit, it's a proper odd experience standing on what are basically her legs and chest, looking out over the surrounding countryside.

The walk takes about twenty minutes to reach the top depending on your fitness. On a clear day you get views across to the Pennines and the Vale of York. It's not dramatically beautiful in the conventional sense - there's a power station visible in one direction and the landscape is very open, very rolling Northumberland. Some folk find it slightly eerie, others brilliant. I'd say it's genuinely worth the detour if you're staying in the area.

Historically minded visitors will get a kick out of understanding the site's past life as a coal mine. Kids often enjoy the novelty of climbing what's essentially a giant hill-sculpture, though they might find it repetitive after forty minutes. The best time is late afternoon when the light's warmer and the wind's usually dropped a bit.

If you're based at Tranwell Farm Holidays nearby - which has cracking reviews - this works well as a quick half-day outing. Pair it with a proper walk elsewhere in Northumberland rather than making it your whole day.