Brock Hill

The walk up to Brock Hill near Stroud rewards you with one of the finest panoramas in the Cotswolds - assuming you catch it on a clear day. The summit sits at 916 feet, which doesn't sound dramatic until you're standing there looking back toward the Forest of Dean and forward into Gloucestershire's rolling valleys.

It's a proper hike rather than a casual stroll. Most people allow between 90 minutes and two hours to get up and back down, depending on fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath. The paths are steep in places and can turn muddy after rain, so decent boots matter more than trainers.

Walkers will love it. Families with older kids can manage it, though younger ones might find the ascent tedious without motivation (the view payoff does help). History enthusiasts get less here - Brock Hill is about the walk and the vista, not about layers of human drama.

Free to visit, naturally. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top, so bring water and maybe something to eat if you want to linger. The best light for photographs is late afternoon, when you're not staring into glare.

If you're staying at Tobacconist Farm Campsite nearby, this makes a brilliant day out - close enough not to waste petrol, far enough to feel like you've done something proper. On a clear day, genuinely worth the leg work.