Hanging Hill

The walk up Hanging Hill from the Cotswold slopes south of Bath is steep enough to make your legs complain, but the payoff is proper. You're looking at bare moorland and rolling Somerset countryside that stretches further than seems fair from somewhere this close to a city. The summit itself is windswept and open - there's a trig point and not much else, which somehow makes it better.

It's the kind of place that rewards walkers rather than casual strollers. Allow a couple of hours from the nearest car park if you're not particularly fit; the gradient doesn't mess about. The views back towards Bath are solid on a clear day, though you won't see the city itself - you're looking at the landscape that surrounds it instead.

On paper it doesn't sound like much - just a peak with views - but there's something about the exposed moorland feel that makes it worth the effort. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a slog. The best time is probably autumn when the light gets that golden quality and you're not battling summer heat on the climb.

If you're staying at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat nearby, it's a solid half-day activity that gets you out of the busy bits around the city centre. The walk itself is straightforward enough - just steep - and you'll likely have the place mostly to yourself, which in 2024 is something.