Caer Mote

The walk up Caer Mote isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you work for the views. This modest fell sits just outside Wigton and rewards you with proper panoramic sight lines across the Lake District fells to the south and the Solway Firth spreading out north towards Scotland. On a clear day you can pick out some serious peaks in the distance, though the fell itself is more working hill than dramatic summit.

It's best suited to walkers who aren't after a full day out - allow an hour or so from the car park and back. Families with older kids will manage it fine, but younger legs might find the gradient tedious. The views are genuine, not an Instagram illusion, though I wouldn't pretend it's a destination in itself. Rather, it's a proper addition to a Cumbrian holiday, especially if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Skiddaw View or Forest Views.

There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of - no cafe, no gift shop, no interpretation boards - which is rather refreshing. Free to visit, naturally, as you'd expect on a Cumbrian fell. The real value comes if you're already in the area exploring the northern Lake District fringes. Combine it with a walk around Bassenthwaite or a ramble through the Whinlatter Pass woods, and you've got a solid day. On its own it's a bit brief, but as part of a wider route it works well.