White Horse

Carved into the chalk hillside above Westbury, this 175-foot-tall figure has been staring across the Wiltshire countryside since 1778. The white horse gets a proper clean-up every few years, and when they do it right, the contrast against the green downs is absolutely striking. You'll spot it from miles away as you approach Westbury - it's visible from the A350 and several surrounding villages. The viewing point gives you a decent perspective, though honestly the best views are from further back where you can appreciate the scale properly. Walking right up to it feels a bit anticlimactic - you're too close to see the shape clearly. Families with young children should know it's quite a trek from the car park, and the paths can be muddy after rain. History enthusiasts will appreciate that this replaced an earlier horse from the 1680s, though nobody's entirely sure what the original looked like. The site works well with a holiday at nearby Brokerswood Holiday Park or Hunters Moon Warminster - both are under five miles away. Allow an hour for the round trip walk, longer if you fancy exploring the surrounding downland. Free to visit, open all hours, but bring a torch if you're planning an evening trip as there's no lighting on the footpaths.