Brock Barrow

The walk up Brock Barrow rewards you with views across the Furness Peninsula that make the slog genuinely worthwhile. It's not a massive peak - around 300 metres - but it punches above its weight for a half-day outing from Ulverston.

You're basically looking at open moorland with proper vistas across to the Lake District fells and down towards Morecambe Bay. The actual summit is bare and windswept, which is exactly what you want. Clear days are essential here; cloud cover renders it fairly pointless. The paths are reasonably well-trodden but can be boggy after rain, so decent boots are non-negotiable.

This suits walkers who want something achievable without needing to commit half the day. Families with older kids will manage it fine - it's not technical, just a steady pull uphill. Younger children might find it a bit of a trudge for what's on offer at the top, if I'm honest.

Allow about two to three hours for a round trip from the car park. No facilities up there, so bring water. It's free to visit, obviously - it's a fell. The moorland can be stark and beautiful in poor light, but on drizzly days you're mostly just breathing cloud and wondering why you bothered.

If you're based at Hill of Oaks or Newby Bridge, Brock Barrow works as a morning walk before heading into the Lakes proper. It's the sort of place that reminds you why people bother with Cumbria in the first place, particularly if you catch the light right.