Sometimes, despite travelling the world, there’s nothing like home, the environment at your front door and a familiar walk up the hill behind where you live.

Germany has a lovely word for the local mountain in a town or village’s immediate vicinity. A ‘Hausberg’ – literally, ‘house mountain’ – is the prominence most closely associated with somewhere by its residents.

In Switzerland, for instance, Basel has St. Chrischona, Lucerne has Pilatus and Lugano, south of the Gotthard Pass where the chestnut gnocchi is sublime and the Merlot even better, has Monte San Salvatore. They’re local hills or mountains that define a place.

This time last year, we took every opportunity to walk the Cotswolds in preparation for a five-week, 340 km, north-south trek along Switzerland’s Via Gottardo, from German-speaking Basel to oh-so-Italian Chiasso. The first fortnight’s terrain, across Switzerland’s Jura and Mittelland, was remarkably similar to Gloucestershire’s. With that in mind, the Cotswolds in general and Charlton Kings’ ‘Hausberg’ in particular proved perfect for training.

A rewarding climb up the Cotswold escarpment

One of our most accessible – and stamina-building – conditioning walks involved donning packs, heading south past St Mary’s Church and along Little Herbert’s Road, and climbing the Cotswold escarpment. Within 30 minutes, after passing Timbercombe Woods’ beautiful avenue of beeches, you’re at a dizzying 275m atop Ravensgate Hill where the path joins the famous Cotswold Way.

It’s hardly alpine but it’s always worth the effort. Make no mistake, this is world-class walking country: we know of Swiss who’ve come here to hike! The panoramas over Cheltenham and the Malverns are stunning. And if the weather’s right, so are the sunsets.

It’s Charlton Kings’ secret scenic weapon but we love sharing it. Bring a picnic, race us up to the hilltop seat and enjoy the vista over the Vale of Evesham. If Charlton Kings has a ‘Hausberg’, this is surely it.

Extend your walk on the descent

When you’ve had your fill of the view, descend the way you came up or extend your walk down through Lineover Wood to Dowdeswell Reservoir. Then, head back into the village via Colgate Farm and Ham, or directly along the London Road, for some well-earned refreshment at one of our local pubs or coffee shops.

If you catch me in my local and stand me a pint, I’ll even tell you about our Swiss adventure and meeting A-list Swiss Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty along the way!