Binsey Plantation

The walk up to Binsey Plantation from Keswick is straightforward enough, though the reward is more about the journey than arriving at some grand structure. This is a working forestry plantation, not a manicured tourist attraction - fir trees planted in neat rows stretching across the fell side, with a proper hill climb that'll take you a good hour or so depending on your fitness. The views back over Derwentwater and towards Catbells are the real draw here, especially if the weather's playing ball. You'll see why the Victorians thought this part of the Lake District was worth walking into.

Walkers will get something out of this. It's not a stroll - there's actual ascent involved - but it's manageable and the woodland itself is quiet, which is half the appeal when Keswick's town centre gets rammed with day-trippers. Kids who are old enough to handle a proper fell walk (say, nine or ten upwards) won't find it boring, though younger ones might grumble about the effort for what's essentially trees and a view.

It's free to walk here, and there are no gates or restrictions that I'm aware of. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how long you dawdle at the top. If you're camping at one of the nearby spots like Kestrel Lodge or Skiddaw View, it's a decent half-day activity to fill a morning. It won't be the highlight of a Lake District trip, but it's a solid alternative if you want to dodge the crowds at more famous summits.