Tor Hill

The climb up Tor Hill rewards you with views across the Severn Vale that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's a proper walk rather than a stroll - the path from Dursley side gains real height, and your legs will know about it by the top. Once there though, you're standing at 318 metres with the Cotswolds rolling away behind you and Somerset levels spreading out ahead. The summit itself is small, a bit windswept, but absolutely worth the effort.

This is mainly for walkers who actually enjoy a bit of exertion. Kids will manage it if they're used to hills, but toddlers won't fancy the steep stretches. History buffs might find the Iron Age fort site interesting - there's not much visible now, but knowing you're stood on an ancient defensive position adds another layer. Allow a solid hour and a half there and back, longer if you want to linger and soak in the view properly.

Going free, which is brilliant. The best time is late afternoon when the light hits the vale just right, or early morning if you want relative solitude. It sits well with a Gloucestershire holiday - Pepper Pot Caravan Park and Wixoldbury Farm Glamping are both within easy striking distance, so you could make this your base for exploring the area. Plenty of other walks in the Cotswold Edge to keep you busy for a week.