Cam Peak

The walk up Cam Peak rewards you with proper views across the Forest of Dean and beyond - assuming you pick a clear day and the mist cooperates. It's not a dramatic scramble; more a steady trudge through woodland that opens out as you climb, the kind of walk where you can actually hold a conversation until the final push. The peak itself isn't much to write home about - a modest summit with a trig point - but the vantage point over Gloucestershire makes the effort worthwhile.

This is one for people who like their countryside properly explored on foot rather than admired from a car park. Families with older kids and decent boots will manage fine; under-eights might find it a slog depending on how enthused they are about trees and views. Allow a couple of hours there and back depending on your pace and how long you fancy lingering at the top.

The walk is free, naturally. Timing-wise, go early on a weekend if you want parking near the start, or midweek if you prefer having the path to yourself. If you're staying at one of the holiday parks near Gloucester - The Riverside at The George Inn is closest at just over three miles - Cam Peak makes a solid morning or early afternoon excursion before heading back for a pub meal. It's straightforward enough that you won't need maps, though checking the weather first is essential. Nothing spoils a woodland walk quite like unexpected cloud.