Kites Hill

The walk up Kites Hill rewards you with proper Cotswold views - rolling valleys that seem to stretch forever, and on a clear day you can pick out the distinctive slopes of the Forest of Dean to the north. It's not the highest point around here, but it's accessible enough that most people can manage it without needing serious kit, which is why it works well if you're based at one of the glamping sites near Stroud like Painswick Glamping or Cherry Tree Glamping.

The hill itself is straightforward to reach from Stroud, though you'll want decent footwear because the paths can get muddy even a day or two after rain. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip if you're taking it leisurely. There's something honest about it - no visitor centre, no café, just grassland and sky. Families with decent walkers will enjoy it; very young kids might find the ascent tedious. History buffs won't find much here beyond what the landscape itself tells you, but that's rather the point.

Worth the drive? Yes, if you're staying in the area and want a proper leg-stretch with a payoff at the top. The Cotswolds can feel a bit manicured sometimes, but Kites Hill has an unselfconscious quality that's refreshing. Go when you've got decent weather forecast - a grey day here feels like you're walking inside a cloud. Combine it with Painswick Beacon or a wander through Stroud itself and you've got a solid day sorted.