Windrush Camp

Iron Age earthworks don't sound thrilling until you're actually standing on them, trying to work out which lumps are defensive ditches and which are just enthusiastic mole activity. Windrush Camp, near Bourton-on-the-Water, is a proper archaeological site - a sprawling Iron Age settlement that once housed a decent-sized community on this Oxfordshire hilltop. The remains are subtle: banks and ditches, mostly, the sort of thing you'd walk straight past unless someone pointed them out. But that's rather the appeal, especially if you're into prehistory or fancy yourself a landscape detective.

The site doesn't come with visitor facilities or interpretation boards, so it rewards those who do a bit of homework beforehand or aren't bothered by mystery. You can wander freely across the earthworks, which means it's free and flexible - brilliant if you're caravan-based nearby. The walk is gentle, though the exposed hilltop can catch the wind (hence the name, presumably). Archaeologists reckoned it was occupied sometime between 500 and 100 BC, which puts it well within the Iron Age story of southern England.

Based at one of the holiday parks within a few miles - Wysdom Touring Park and Burford Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite are both excellent choices - you could easily combine this with a proper walk around Bourton-on-the-Water itself or a stroll through the wider Cotswolds. It won't keep you occupied for hours, but it's the sort of spot that adds texture to a countryside break if you know what you're looking at. Kids might enjoy it as an adventure if framed right; history enthusiasts will definitely appreciate the quiet.