Burnt Hill

Burnt Hill stands just a few miles from Bury, rising up from the moorland with the kind of view that makes the climb feel genuinely worthwhile. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like Pendle or Kinder Scout - but that's rather the point. You get proper panoramic Lancashire without the crowds, looking out across the valleys towards Manchester on a clear day.

The walk takes about forty minutes from the nearest carpark, mostly on decent footpaths with just a few rocky sections near the top. It's accessible enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the final push a bit steep. The summit itself is a modest affair - no cairn, no shelter - but you'll often have the place to yourself, which counts for something.

Hardcore walkers might squeeze it into a longer moorland circuit. History types won't find much to linger over, so don't expect Bronze Age settlements or industrial heritage. What you get is space and air and that genuine sense of being somewhere wild, even though you're never far from civilisation.

If you're based at Dearden Wood or the Burrs caravan sites nearby, Burnt Hill makes a solid half-day outing. Go in the morning before the light starts turning hazy - afternoon visits often mean a disappointing view. Spring and autumn are best; summer can be overgrown, winter occasionally muddy enough to catch you out.