Brown How

Brown How is a modest fell above Cockermouth that doesn't grab headlines but rewards a straightforward walk with proper views across the northern Lake District. The ascent is gentle enough - around 500 metres of climbing - and takes most people an hour or so from the carpark. What you get at the top is a ringside seat over the Derwent Valley, with Bassenthwaite Lake glinting to the south and the higher fells beyond. On a clear day it's genuinely worth the effort.

Walkers will find this one far less crowded than the major peaks. Families with kids aged seven upwards can manage it without complaint, though the path gets a bit boggy in places after rain. The view from the summit is the whole point here - there's no café or facilities, so pack a flask and some snacks. An hour at the top gives you time to eat, take photos, and soak it in without feeling rushed.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Whinfell Hall Farm is closest at just 2.5 miles away - Brown How makes a cracking half-day outing before returning to camp for a cook-up. It's far less touristy than heading towards Skiddaw or the Catbells crowd, and that's precisely its charm. Go early or late in the day for cleaner light and fewer other walkers. Worth doing, honestly.