Bury Hill

Getting to the top of Bury Hill takes the best part of an hour if you're not a regular hill walker, but the views across the Cotswolds make the climb worthwhile. It's a proper slog up steep grassland, and you'll want decent boots - the ground gets boggy after rain. Once you're up there, you can see for miles: Cirencester sits below to the south, and on a clear day the ridge stretches endlessly towards the Forest of Dean.

This isn't a tourist attraction with benches and signage. It's a bare hilltop that rewards walkers and anyone who actually wants to earn their views rather than pull up in a car park. Families with older kids who can manage a two-hour round trip will love it. Younger children will find it tedious, and parents will find carrying them even more so.

The hill is free, obviously - it's just land. Go early morning to avoid the midday crowds, though honestly you won't see many people anyway. Spring and early autumn are best; winter gets muddy and the views disappear into mist half the time. If you're staying at Park Farm Campsite or Hoburne Cotswold just down the road near Cirencester, this makes a solid morning excursion before lunch. Don't expect facilities - bring water and snacks. The real draw is the walk itself and that moment when you crest the top and realise how far you can actually see from a Cotswolds hill.