Parson's Hill

The walk up Parson's Hill rewards you with proper Cotswolds views that stretch across rolling valleys and distant woodlands. It's a modest peak by any serious measure - nothing that'll have your calves screaming - but that's rather the point. This is the kind of walk you do on a lazy afternoon from Stroud when the weather's playing ball, not a dawn-till-dusk expedition.

From the top you get that satisfying 360-degree thing that makes the climb feel worthwhile, even if it only takes thirty minutes. On a clear day the perspective on the surrounding countryside really does make sense of the landscape below. It's the sort of spot that photographers linger at, and history types will appreciate the views that would have mattered to people living here centuries ago.

Walkers will get the most from this - it's accessible enough for families with reasonably fit kids, though younger children might need a bit of encouragement on the steeper sections. Allow an hour return if you're not rushing, longer if you're planning to sit at the top with a flask. Early morning or late afternoon light is worth timing for.

If you're based at any of the glamping spots around Painswick or the caravan parks near Cirencester, Parson's Hill makes a sensible half-day addition to exploring the wider Cotswolds. It slots neatly between Stroud's market town wandering and bigger walks through the surrounding valleys. Free to access, naturally, and worth the detour if you're in the area.