Benty Hill

The walk up Benty Hill doesn't take long, which is exactly why it works so well. From Kirkby Stephen, you're looking at a straightforward climb to a modest Pennine peak that rewards you with proper fell views across upper Westmorland. Nothing dramatic, nothing that'll have you gasping for air, but the kind of honest hillside that reminds you why people come to Cumbria in the first place.

It's a fell for walkers who want mileage without the fuss - the sort of place families with reasonably fit legs can tick off before lunch. The views back towards the Eden Valley are the real draw here, and on a clear day you can see a decent swathe of moorland. Come midweek in autumn and you'll likely have it to yourself.

If you're based at Gillcumber Glamping Pods, Benty Hill makes an easy morning excursion that keeps you local without feeling like you're repeating yourself. It's not a destination hike - more a solid warm-up if you're planning bigger days in the surrounding fells. The ground can be boggy after rain, so pick your weather carefully. Allow a couple of hours return, including a sit-down at the top.

Worth doing? Yes, if you're in the area and the light's good. It's the kind of fell that doesn't demand much but gives back a quiet, unglamorous sort of satisfaction.