Gore Hill

The walk up Gore Hill rewards you with one of those views that makes you understand why people get obsessed with Oxfordshire's high points. At 735 feet, it's not exactly Alpine, but on a clear day you can see across three counties from the summit - proper worth the effort.

It's a straightforward ramble from near Thatcham, the sort of walk that takes about an hour return depending on your pace and how often you stop to admire the rolling countryside. The hill itself is gentle enough that families with reasonably active kids won't struggle, though it's a bit of a slog if you've got toddlers in tow.

What makes Gore Hill work as a stop-off is how it slots into a broader Oxfordshire walking circuit. You're close enough to Rolling Fields Glamping that it makes sense as a morning or afternoon outing before settling back for the evening - grab a packed lunch, head up, sit at the top with decent views across the landscape, and you've got a proper half-day sorted.

The hill itself is largely moorland and grassland, which means exposure to weather when the wind picks up. Bring layers even if it looks fine in the car park. There's nothing commercialised up there - no café, no gift shop, just you and the view. For walkers keen on Oxfordshire's high ground, it's well worth the drive from Thatcham. History buffs might not find much of interest, but the landscape itself tells the story of rural England.