Blencathra

Blencathra rises sharply from the Vale of Keswick, its distinctive ridge catching your eye long before you're anywhere near it. This isn't a gentle Lake District stroll - it's a proper fell that rewards you with one of the best views in the northern lakes, taking in Skiddaw, Helvellyn, and on clear days, the Scottish hills beyond.

The mountain itself offers several routes up depending on your nerve and fitness. Sharp Edge is the notorious one - a knife-edge scramble that's genuinely exposed and not for the faint-hearted. Most walkers take the less dramatic but still rewarding paths via Scales Tarn or from the Blease Gill side. Allow three to four hours for a steady ascent and descent from Keswick town center.

This is walkers' territory, pure and simple. You'll get families here on good weather weekends, but anyone expecting an easy ramble will quickly regret their choice of footwear. The fell demands respect and proper boots - it's steep, loose in places, and the weather can change brutally fast.

Free to climb, obviously. The real cost is effort and time. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Threlkeld Hall is closest at just over a mile away - Blencathra makes for a half or full day depending on which route you choose. Castlerigg Hall and Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club are also handily positioned for a crack at it. Go on a weekday if possible and you'll have the ridge mostly to yourself.