Vinegar Hill

Standing at 195 metres above the Gloucester plain, this modest Cotswold peak won't test your legs too hard but delivers proper views across the Severn Valley. The gentle climb through beech woods takes about 45 minutes from the nearest parking spot, making it a decent morning stretch for families with older children. You'll know you've reached the top when the trees thin out and suddenly half of Gloucestershire spreads below you. On clear days, the Welsh mountains edge the horizon to the west while the Malverns rise to the north. It's free to walk, obviously, and the OS maps mark several footpath routes up from different directions. Early morning or late afternoon light shows the landscape at its best, though any time works if you're not fussed about photography. Walkers and dog owners make up most of the traffic here - it's not really one for pushchairs or anyone who struggles with uneven woodland paths. The summit itself is fairly small, so don't expect to spend hours up there, but it makes a lovely half-day out from any of the nearby holiday parks around Gloucester. Combine it with a pub lunch in one of the villages below and you've got a proper day sorted.