Swanborough Tump

A Saxon burial mound rising abruptly from the Wiltshire downland just outside Marlborough, Swanborough Tump is one of those sites that catches you off guard. You're walking across open countryside and suddenly there it is - a proper hump in the landscape, roughly circular, maybe 50 metres across. The top sits about 7 metres above the surrounding fields.

What you're looking at is genuinely ancient. This was a cremation cemetery for high-status Saxon burials, dating back to around the 5th or 6th century. Archaeologists have found cremated remains and grave goods here - the sort of stuff that tells you important people were being put to rest in style. These days, it's just the mound itself, quiet and understated, but that's rather the appeal.

It's best suited to history enthusiasts and serious walkers rather than families after an afternoon's entertainment. You won't spend long here - twenty minutes tops - but the setting is gorgeous. The Wiltshire chalk downs stretch around you, and on a clear day you get proper views across the landscape. No facilities, no car park, no entry fees. Just a walk across farmland to reach it.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Ridgeway Campsite or Little Owls Camping are closest at around 3.6 miles out - this works well as a morning walk combined with exploring Marlborough itself. The town's market square is worth an hour, and the Kennet and Avon Canal runs through it. Worth the detour if you're into early medieval archaeology, less so if you're after something with more obvious attractions.