Red Hall Top

Head out from Leicester towards the high ground and you'll find Red Hall Top, a proper viewpoint that rewards the effort with sweeping views across Leicestershire. It's not a dramatic peak - this is East Midlands terrain, after all - but from up here the landscape spreads out in a way that makes the climb worthwhile. You get a real sense of the rolling countryside that surrounds the city, and on a clear day you can trace how the land falls away in all directions.

The walk up takes maybe twenty minutes depending on your fitness, nothing taxing but enough to get the blood moving. It's the sort of spot that works well for families who want a proper outing without needing to drive hours - your kids will feel like they've achieved something, and you'll actually get decent views rather than just a hill with trees. History types might be interested to know the area has old estate connections, though Red Hall Top itself is more about the vista than any particular landmark.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Mallory Meadows is closest at just two miles, with The Paddocks another option nearby - this makes an easy afternoon excursion. It's free to visit, naturally, and there's no formal opening hours to worry about. Bring proper footwear because the ground can get muddy. Best visited in autumn when the light's golden and you can actually see across the county without summer haze obscuring everything. Allow an hour all in, including the walk and a proper look around at the top.