Coppett Hill

The walk up Coppett Hill rewards you with proper views across the Wye Valley - the kind that make you understand why people have been tramping up Gloucestershire hills for centuries. It's a straightforward ascent from Ross-on-Wye, nothing brutal, and the summit gives you sight lines toward the Forest of Dean and down into Herefordshire beyond. The hill itself is open moorland-style ground with gorse and bracken, so there's genuine space to breathe up here rather than dense woodland claustrophobia.

Walkers will absolutely get their money's worth from this one. The climb takes roughly forty minutes from the base depending on your pace, and you can extend it by linking to nearby paths in the area. Kids handle it fine if they're reasonably mobile - nothing technical, just steady gradient. Photography types should come when the light's low and sideways, either early morning or late afternoon, because the valley really shows itself then.

Free to walk, obviously. Spring and autumn are your best bets weather-wise, though summer can be muggy given the moorland trapping heat. Winter's damp but dramatic if you're after moody skies.

Stay at one of the local campsites - Doward Park is closest at just over two miles, or Bracelands if you want a touch more space. Both put you within spitting distance for an early start. Pair this with walks through the lower Wye Valley itself, and you've got a solid walking weekend without needing to chase the usual tourist crowds.