Edge Dog Field

The Cotswolds around Stroud are dotted with oddly named spots, and Edge Dog Field is one that'll have you squinting at your map wondering what on earth you've stumbled onto. It's a straightforward open field on the edges of the Cotswold escarpment - the sort of place that rewards a wander rather than a long sit-down.

What makes it worth the trip is the view. From up here you get a proper sense of the valley dropping away below Stroud, with those characteristic Cotswold stone villages tucked into the folds. On a clear day the sight lines stretch far enough to make you understand why people fought over these hills for centuries.

This isn't a destination that'll eat up half your day. Give it twenty minutes to an hour depending on how much you fancy a walk around the perimeter. There's no facilities to speak of, so come prepared - it's a windswept spot and can feel exposed in poor weather. Families with young kids might find it bit bleak without the promise of something to do once they've seen the view.

It fits nicely into a broader ramble across the edge if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Middle Lypiatt Glamping is only 3.5 miles away and makes an excellent springboard for exploring this corner of Gloucestershire. The field itself is free to access and genuinely best visited when the light's good, early morning or late afternoon.

Worth the detour if you're already walking the escarpment. Don't plan a day trip around it alone.