Burton Fell

The walk up Burton Fell from Kirkby Stephen takes you through proper fell country, with views that stretch across the Pennines on a clear day. It's not a difficult climb - more of a steady plod than a scramble - and the summit sits at 902 metres, which means you're high enough to feel like you've actually earned it without needing ropes or specialist kit.

The fell itself is fairly bare at the top, typical moorland with short grass and the odd cairn. You'll spot trig points marking the boundary between Cumbria and North Yorkshire. The real reward is the panorama. On good visibility days, you can pick out High Cup Nick to the north and the peaks beyond Kendal to the west. On grey days, frankly, it's a bit bleak and you might wonder why you're here.

Walkers will get the most from Burton Fell. It's a two to three hour round trip depending on your pace and which approach you take - the eastern route from Kirkby Stephen town itself is more direct than the southern paths. Families with older kids (say, ten upwards) will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the moorland featureless and boring by the halfway point.

There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top - bring water and a packed lunch if you're planning to linger. It pairs well with a stay at Wild Rose Holiday Park five miles away, giving you access to wider fell walking in the area without tackling the bigger peaks like Cross Fell. Worth doing if you're in the region and the weather looks reasonable.