Bolts law, spadeadam

You'll find yourself standing in proper wild country when you reach Bolts Law near Spadeadam, a lonely moorland ridge that rises sharply from the Northumberland landscape between Hexham and the Kielder Water catchment. The walk up rewards you with panoramic views across the Pennines - on a clear day you can see for miles across rolling hills and forestry that stretches toward Scotland. It's an exposed spot, windswept and unforgiving, which is precisely why it works so well.

This is walkers' territory. The terrain is open moorland with rough grass underfoot, and you'll want decent boots and weather-appropriate kit because conditions change fast up here. The ascent itself isn't technically difficult but it's relentless, and the lack of shelter means children under ten might struggle if the weather turns. Allow two to three hours for a decent circular walk from the nearest parking areas.

If you're based at Kielder Waterside and Lodges or Landal Kielder Waterside - both solid options within easy reach - Bolts Law makes a brilliant half-day excursion away from the busier attractions. The landscape is completely different from the lakeside, and that contrast is exactly what makes it worthwhile. Go early on a settled day to avoid the afternoon clouds rolling in off the Irish Sea. Free to visit, obviously, and you'll likely have the place largely to yourself unless you're there on a popular weekend.