Sugar Loaf

The walk up Sugar Loaf takes you through proper woodland before the views open out suddenly - and they're genuinely worth the climb. This 596-metre peak sits just west of Hereford, commanding sight lines across the Wye Valley that stretch for miles on a clear day. The summit itself is bare grass, nothing fancy, but the perspective you get of the Welsh hills to the west and the roll of Herefordshire farmland below is reason enough to make the effort.

It's a solid two-hour round trip from the car park, mostly through beech and oak woodland with a steep push at the end. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might grumble on the final ascent. The path is well-trodden and reasonably clear, even in winter. Go early to dodge the weekend crowds, and do pick a day when visibility isn't rubbish - there's nothing to see up there in thick cloud.

If you're staying at Grove Farm Glamping or Goytree Glamping and Treehouses nearby, this makes a cracking morning before settling back for lunch. The woods are thick with bluebells in spring, and autumn brings proper colour. The whole thing doesn't take the best part of a day, so you can pair it easily with other Herefordshire explorations - the cider trail, the cathedral, riverside walks along the Wye. Sugar Loaf works best for walkers who like a straightforward hill climb with genuine views as the payoff, rather than those after hidden ruins or Victorian attractions.