Roman marching camp

The earthworks at Upton are what remain of a Roman marching camp - one of those temporary bases the legions threw up while on the move across Britain. You won't find much to look at beyond the ditches and banks that still mark out the rectangular fort's perimeter, but that's precisely what makes it interesting. This is archaeology in the raw, no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, no fuss. Just the ghost of military occupation from nearly two millennia ago.

You're looking at what amounts to a massive rectangular scar in the landscape near Chester, the Roman Deva. It takes patience to appreciate - the kind of thing that rewards walkers who like reading the ground itself rather than waiting for someone else to explain it. History enthusiasts and Roman Britain obsessives will get more from it than casual visitors; families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're already keen on archaeology.

Head out from Chester itself, and you're minutes away. The site is freely accessible as far as records show, though facilities are non-existent. Allow an hour to properly walk the perimeter and take in the scale of the thing. Early morning is best if you want decent light and no bother from the elements - Welsh weather doesn't hang about.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Chester Fairoaks is closest at 2.6 miles, or Birch Bank Farm just under 3 miles away - this makes a decent half-day outing combined with Chester itself. The city's proper Roman remains are far more substantial, but Upton gives you the raw material of how the occupation actually worked.