Burnbank Fell

The walk up Burnbank Fell from Cockermouth is straightforward enough, and that's precisely why it works so well. You're looking at maybe two hours there and back if you don't dawdle, making it ideal for families who don't fancy a full-day mountain slog. The fell itself tops out at a modest height, but the views across the Lake District's northern reaches are genuinely worth the effort. On a clear day you can pick out proper landmarks - the Solway Firth in one direction, the higher fells beyond Keswick in another. The path is well-trodden and mostly manageable, though there's a bit of a grind near the top.

It's not the sort of walk that'll blow your mind if you're already familiar with the Lake District's bigger peaks. But if you're camping at Whinfell Hall Farm or one of the other sites nearby, it makes a cracking afternoon excursion without requiring serious kit or preparation. Kids will manage it without complaint, and the view from the summit gives them something to feel properly proud of reaching. The fell has that satisfying quality of being close to civilisation - Cockermouth is right there - yet still feeling properly wild once you're up high. Wildflowers do well on the upper slopes in late spring and early summer, which adds a bit of colour to the walk. There's something honest about Burnbank Fell: it doesn't pretend to be anything grander than it is, and that's part of its appeal.