a tight circuit flown sometimes only a tad lower works well avoiding the higher ground. Moreover without splitting hairs 700 feet may be whats needed on the day - but if you have not had experience of doing it before it can seem hard work the first time.
Without wishing to be superior about this, 700 feet isn't a bad weather circuit. Chuck referred to one minute touch and goes earlier. To do one minute touch and goes requires a circuit height of no more than 150-200 feet. Try it sometime. That's a bad weather circuit, or lower if necessary. My normal circuit height is 500 feet.
Flying light aircraft like airliners not only misses the point, but exposes people to high levels of risk if things go wrong because they haven't had appropriate training.