Brough Hill

The walk up Brough Hill from Kirkby Stephen is properly modest but oddly satisfying. It's not a lung-busting scramble - more of a steady plod through farmland that opens up surprisingly decent views across the Eden Valley once you've gained the height. The hill itself sits just outside town, making it ideal for an afternoon if you can't face a full day's hiking.

What you're actually doing is climbing to an old motte-and-bailey fortification, though honestly the earthworks themselves are underwhelming. You notice them once you know they're there, but they won't hold your attention long. The appeal is the walk itself and what you can see from the top - Penrith way off in one direction, the Pennines in another. On a clear day it's worth the effort. On a claggy Cumbrian afternoon, less so.

Families with young kids might manage it fine if they're used to gentle slopes, though there's bugger all at the summit to keep them entertained beyond "we did it". History buffs will appreciate the Norman heritage, but this isn't Hadrian's Wall - it's background scenery rather than a main event.

If you're staying at Gillcumber Glamping Pods or Wild Rose Holiday Park in the area, it's a decent half-day loop that doesn't require driving. Go early to miss the afternoon crowds. Free, naturally. Allow a couple of hours round trip, less if you're fit.