Askhill Knott

The walk up Askhill Knott from Cockermouth direction is proper straightforward and rewards you with views across the northern Lake District that punch above the fell's modest height. It's not a dramatic peak - more a rounded hump with decent vistas than a dramatic summit - but that's rather the point. You get the fell-walking experience without the scramble or the crowds you'd find on the bigger names nearby.

The route is doable for most fitness levels, though there's real graft on the steeper sections and the terrain underfoot can be boggy after wet weather. Allow a couple of hours up and down. If you're camping at Whinfell Hall Farm or Greysouthen, it makes a cracking half-day expedition without needing to venture far from base. Families with confident walkers will manage it fine; younger kids might find the climb tedious without proper motivation.

Where it wins is the setting. You're looking across to the Skiddaw range and back toward the Cockermouth valley below. The walk feels less touristy than the honeypots, which matters if you want some peace. There's something quite lovely about reaching the top without having queued or paid entry fees. Weather matters here more than most peaks - cloud can roll in fast and spoil the view, so check conditions before heading out.

It's worth combining with other walks in the area rather than making a day of Askhill alone. The surrounding fells offer plenty of routing options. Cockermouth town itself has decent enough facilities for refuelling afterwards.