Saltridge Hill

The walk up Saltridge Hill proper rewards you with views across the Stroud valleys that'll make you forget about the climb. It's not a major peak - we're talking Cotswold heights here, not Alpine drama - but the grassland at the top opens up nicely, and on a clear day you can trace the landscape rolling away in all directions.

From Stroud itself it's an accessible ramble, good for anyone who wants a proper walk without needing crampons and a support team. Families with decent walkers will manage it fine; young kids might find the last bit of ascent tedious. The real draw is the sense of perspective you get - you're standing where you can actually see how the valleys fold into one another, how the land breathes. Come on a weekday morning if you can, before the weather turns murky.

It's free, obviously - just turn up with decent boots and an ordnance survey map. Allow two hours there and back if you're moving at a normal pace and stopping for the view. This works perfectly as part of a longer Cotswold walking itinerary. If you're based at Cherry Tree Glamping or Painswick Glamping nearby, you've got this on your doorstep. Pair it with a walk around Painswick itself or head towards the Five Valleys - there's proper rambling country all through this bit of Gloucestershire.