Coleshill

The walk up Coleshill from Faringdon side is straightforward and rewarding - you're looking at maybe 45 minutes to the top if you take it steady. The views from up there sweep across the Vale of the White Horse, proper sprawling countryside that makes you understand why people have been drawn to this spot for centuries. On a clear day you can clock the Cotswolds off to the north, which isn't bad for an Oxfordshire peak that barely breaks 250 metres.

It's one of those walks that suits families reasonably well - nothing technical, the gradient builds gradually rather than catching you out with a sudden kick. Older kids will manage it without complaint, though under-fives might need carrying the last bit. The summit itself is modest - an open field rather than dramatic rocky outcrop - but that's partly the appeal. No crowds, no visitor centre, just space and air and the kind of silence you don't get near towns.

Walkers heading through the area should slot this in as part of a larger loop rather than a standalone trip. You're close enough to Faringdon Grange and The Real Campsite if you're basing yourself locally for a longer break. The footpaths around here link up well, so you can string together a proper day out. Bring a map - the routes aren't signed brilliantly once you're on the slopes. Best tackled in morning light when the views are clearest and you've got the ridge mostly to yourself.