Tolsford Hill

You won't find crowds at Tolsford Hill, and that's rather the point. This modest Kent peak sits just outside Canterbury and offers one of those straightforward walks that rewards you with genuine views across the Weald without requiring fell boots or a packed lunch. The climb is gentle - nothing that'll have your calves screaming - and the summit gives you a proper sense of having actually gone somewhere, even if the height marker doesn't suggest it.

Walkers will appreciate the clear paths and the way the landscape opens up as you gain height. It's the kind of place that makes sense as a half-morning outing before lunch back in Canterbury, or a leg-stretcher if you're camped at one of the nearby sites like Hawthorne Trench or Black Horse Farm. Children won't find it tedious - the walk takes roughly an hour each way at a reasonable pace - though very small ones might need persuading that the view is worth their effort.

The real value is context. Pair this with Port Lympne Safari Park three and a half miles away if you've got kids in tow, or use it as a thinking walk on a day when you fancy stepping back from tourist Canterbury. Spring and early summer work best; November can turn muddy without warning. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the summit itself, so bring water and wear proper shoes. Free to access, naturally, and far more restorative than you'd expect from something so close to a city.