Birch Fell

Birch Fell sits just outside Ulverston, offering one of those proper Lake District walks that doesn't require you to trek hours into the mountains. It's a modest peak - nothing that'll leave your legs screaming - but the views across Morecambe Bay make the effort worthwhile, particularly on clear days when you can see all the way to the Pennines.

The walk itself takes around two hours return from the nearest car park, climbing through mixed woodland before opening onto moorland. You're looking at maybe 350 metres of ascent, so it's accessible for reasonably fit families without being a toddler-friendly stroll. The summit's a bit windswept and exposed, which means the weather can turn quickly - bring a proper jacket even if it looks calm in town.

This works brilliantly as part of a caravan holiday based around Ulverston and Newby Bridge. Hill of Oaks and Park Cliffe are both within spitting distance, so you could easily knock out Birch Fell as a morning walk before heading down to explore Windermere or the south lakes. It's the sort of walk that rewards getting up early - fewer people, better light, and you'll be back for lunch.

Walkers will appreciate it more than casual visitors. There's no summit shelter, no cafe, just fell and views. That's precisely why it's worth doing. Free to access, obviously - you're just walking up a hillside - and best tackled between May and September when the paths aren't waterlogged.