Birks (Wainwright)

The walk up Birks from Patterdale is exactly the sort of fell that makes you understand why people move to the Lake District. It's not massive - barely 900 metres - but the climb is sharp enough to keep things interesting without being a slog. The path starts gentle enough from the village, then gets properly steep through woodland before opening onto moorland with genuine views across Ullswater and Patterdale Valley.

What makes it work is the company of Birks Beck, a proper little waterfall that tumbles down beside the path. Families with older children will enjoy the scramble aspect - it's part walk, part play on the rocks - though the steeper sections need a head for heights. Most walkers allow ninety minutes up, maybe an hour down if you're taking photos. Early morning or late afternoon gets you there without the worst of the crowds, though it's nowhere near as rammed as Catbells or Helvellyn.

The real draw is the isolation. Once you're above the tree line, it feels miles from anywhere, yet you're barely six miles from Penrith. The views on a clear day stretch south towards the higher fells - not as dramatic as the Helvellyn ridge, but far less crowded. If you're based at Ullswater Holiday Park, this is your midweek escape when everything else is heaving. An afternoon visit works perfectly well; you don't need all day.

Worth doing? Absolutely. Just go early or expect company.