Camperdown

The walk up to Camperdown from Whitley Bay takes about twenty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and it's worth doing on a clear day when you can actually see something from the top. The peak itself isn't dramatic - you're looking at maybe 100 metres of elevation gain across open grassland - but the views back towards the coast and across to the Pennines justify the effort. On a good afternoon, the light hits the Tyne estuary in ways that make you understand why people bothered to record this spot on maps.

It's the sort of walk that appeals most to families with primary school-age kids and anyone after an easy leg-stretcher rather than a proper hike. The paths are straightforward, there's nothing technical, and the whole thing can be done in under an hour including mucking about at the top. If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay or the Old Hartley Caravan site nearby, Camperdown works as a morning outing before the weather turns or the crowds arrive.

There's no visitor centre or facilities up there - bring water if it's warm. The appeal is genuinely the walk itself and the views; don't expect tea rooms or loos. Winter can be windswept and bleak, so spring and autumn are your sweet spot. It's free and accessible year-round, though the ground can get sodden after rain.