Cox Hill

Cox Hill rewards a proper scramble with views that stretch across the Cotswolds in all directions - assuming the weather plays ball. It's not a peak in the Alpine sense, but from Cirencester it punches above its weight as a vantage point, especially if you're camping nearby at Park Farm or Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park.

The walk itself is straightforward enough for most fitness levels, though the final push to the summit involves a bit of clambering over uneven ground. Allow an hour return trip from the base if you're taking your time. What you get is proper panoramic stuff - rolling fields, distant tree lines, the whole Cotswold landscape laid out below you. On a clear day it's genuinely good.

It's ideal for families with children old enough to manage uneven terrain without constant hand-holding, and walkers after something quick that doesn't demand a full day's commitment. History enthusiasts might find the Iron Age hillfort remains interesting, though there's not much to see on the ground now - it's more about knowing what was there than spotting visible remains.

Free to visit, naturally. Best tackled early morning to beat both crowds and afternoon glare, and avoid wet weather when the paths get slick. If you're based at one of the local campsites for a Cotswolds park holiday, it's an easy detour that gives you altitude and perspective without the drive to bigger summits. Worth the leg-stretcher, though don't expect anything dramatic.