Chalk Hill

The walk up Chalk Hill, just outside Cheltenham, rewards you with proper views across the Cotswolds - the kind that make you understand why people rave about this corner of England. It's not a dramatic peak, more a steady climb through farmland and woodland that takes the better part of an hour depending on your pace and fitness. Once you're up there, the vistas open out nicely, stretching across rolling countryside that shifts colour with the seasons.

This one's ideal for walkers who want something achievable without the scramble and fuss of steeper peaks. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it fine, though younger children might need a snack break halfway. The terrain is mostly well-trodden paths, nothing technical. Allow two to three hours if you're stopping for photos and a breather at the top.

Timing matters - early morning or late afternoon light across the hills is genuinely lovely, and you'll dodge the weekend crush. Summer can be busy with day-trippers from Cheltenham, so consider spring or autumn if you want the walk more to yourself.

If you're based at Bourton-on-the-Water Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Cotswolds Meadow Glamping, Chalk Hill works perfectly as a morning outing before you explore the villages and walks that make the Cotswolds so compelling. It's close enough to feel spontaneous but far enough from the town to feel like proper countryside. Bring water and decent boots - it can get muddy after rain.