Wotton Hill

The walk up Wotton Hill from Dursley is steep enough to make you work for the views, but they're absolutely worth the effort. At 318 metres, it's not going to challenge proper fell-walkers, yet the climb is genuine - the kind that gets your heart going before you've reached the top.

Once you're up there, the Cotswolds spread out in all directions. You get proper 360-degree views across the Forest of Dean to the west and down to the Severn Valley beyond. On a clear day, visibility is excellent. The hill itself is open grassland with a few trees at the summit, so there's nowhere to hide from the weather, but that's part of its appeal - you feel genuinely exposed and high up, even if the height is modest.

This is a walkers' hill pure and simple. Families with younger kids might find the ascent a slog, though once you're there they'll enjoy running about on the open ground. The walk takes roughly 45 minutes up if you're moderately fit, maybe an hour coming down if you're careful on the descent.

It works brilliantly as part of a wider walk around Dursley or combining with other local peaks. If you're staying at Pepper Pot Caravan Park just a couple of miles away, or at the glamping over at Wixoldbury Farm, Wotton Hill makes a cracking half-day outing. Go early on a weekend to avoid crowds, and bring waterproofs - it can get windy and exposed up there.