Angle Tarn

The walk up to Angle Tarn rewards you with one of the Lake District's most satisfying views without the crowds you'd face at Catbells or Helvellyn. It's a proper mountain tarn - that's a small lake to anyone not from round here - sitting at about 430 metres, with steep fells rising on three sides and views down Patterdale Valley that make the climb feel worthwhile.

From Hartsop village, it's roughly three miles and a decent bit of elevation gain. Most people allow two to three hours round trip, depending on fitness and how long you linger. The path climbs through open fellside, getting steeper as you go, but it's never technical - just genuinely steep. On a clear day the reflection of the surrounding peaks in the water is quite something. Even on a grey day, there's a wild, end-of-the-world quality that appeals to proper walkers rather than casual strollers.

This isn't for toddlers or anyone hoping for a gentle afternoon ramble. But if you're staying at Ullswater Holiday Park and fancy something more challenging than the valley routes, this scratches that itch. The fell walking crowds thin out considerably once you're beyond the easy lower slopes.

Visit mid-week in shoulder seasons - spring and autumn - and you might have the place to yourself. Summer weekends bring more company, though never the shoulder-to-shoulder experience of the big-name peaks. Free to visit, naturally. Allow a good three hours if you're not a regular fell-goer.