Akeld Hill

The walk up Akeld Hill isn't particularly long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs by the time you reach the summit. From Wooler, it's a straightforward push up into the Cheviot foothills, and the views across Northumberland open up properly once you're past the tree line.

What you get at the top is proper border country - rolling hills stretching toward Scotland, farmland dropping away below, and on a clear day the Cheviots themselves rising up to the north. It's not a dramatic peak. Don't come expecting dramatic. But it's exactly the sort of walk that works brilliantly if you're based at Highburn House or Riverside Wooler and want something that takes two to three hours door-to-door.

It suits hill walkers and anyone who enjoys a steady climb without technical scrambling. Families with teenagers will be fine; younger kids might find the steepness a drag. The path is straightforward enough, though muddy sections after rain are unavoidable.

Timing-wise, spring and autumn are best - summer can be a bit boggy, winter potentially icy on the approach. There's no facilities on the hill itself, so bring water and something to eat. Free to visit, obviously. It's the sort of walk you do because you're already in the area and want to make the most of a morning or afternoon, not a destination trip in itself.