Brown Howe

Brown Howe sits just south of Penrith, a modest fell that doesn't grab the headlines like its flashier Lakeland neighbours. The walk up takes about an hour from the car park, climbing steadily through moorland and bracken with views that open up properly once you're past the 500-metre mark. On a clear day you can pick out the northern peaks and the Vale of Eden rolling away to the east - genuinely lovely stuff, though the summit itself is fairly bare and windswept.

It's the sort of walk that suits families who've got proper walkers in the mix. Young kids might struggle with the steady gradient, but teenagers will be fine, and the route isn't technical enough to cause grief. History types won't find much here - it's about the walk and the views rather than any heritage angle. Allow two hours return if you're not rushing.

Free to access, naturally. The real appeal is that Brown Howe sits at the quieter end of the Penrith foothills. You won't fight crowds like you would on Helvellyn. If you're based at Crossgate Luxury Glamping or Sykeside Camping Park, it's a proper local option - no drive needed, just lace up the boots and head out. Worth combining with a ramble around Gowbarrow Fell nearby if you've got the energy. Best tackled on a drier day; the moorland can get boggy after rain.