Hailstone Hill

The walk up Hailstone Hill near Cirencester takes about twenty minutes from the car park, and it's genuinely one of those walks where the effort pays off. You get proper views across the Cotswold valleys - on a clear day you can see for miles, which honestly isn't what you'd expect from a hill that's only around 700 feet. The summit itself is straightforward enough, though the path gets a bit muddy after rain.

This is walkers' territory, full stop. Families with younger kids might find it a touch steep for what amounts to a modest height gain, but teenagers won't blink. It's the kind of place you do in an hour or so, then head back down for a pint in Cirencester. Don't come expecting dramatic rocky outcrops or anything theatrical - it's a proper English hill walk with pastoral landscape stretching out below you.

If you're based at Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park just down the road, or one of the other sites dotted around the area, this makes a solid morning or afternoon outing. The freedom to just turn up whenever suits you is the main draw - there's no visitor centre faffing about, no entrance fees. Spring and autumn offer the best light, though summer brings the crowds. Go early if you want a peaceful walk.