Castle How

Castle How is a modest fell rather than any sort of fortress - the name's a bit misleading, really. It sits just above Ambleside, rising to 355 metres, and the payoff is a surprisingly decent panorama across Windermere and down towards the southern lakes. The walk itself is straightforward, nothing technical, which makes it ideal for families who want a proper hill without the commitment of something like the Langdale Pikes.

You're looking at roughly 45 minutes to the summit depending on fitness and how many photos you stop for. The path climbs through woodland before opening onto moorland scattered with bilberry and heather. On a clear day - which admittedly isn't guaranteed in the Lake District - the views justify the effort. Windermere spreads out below, and you can pick out the Langdale peaks towards the west.

Walkers using Great Langdale Campsite or Fisherground Campsite are well-positioned to tag this on as a shorter walk between bigger days out. It's the sort of thing that works brilliantly as a morning objective before heading back to camp for lunch. Not a scramble, not requiring special kit, just a proper fell walk that delivers something genuinely worth the climb.

It's free to walk - obviously - and accessible year-round, though winter can bring boggy patches lower down. Start early if you're visiting in summer; the paths get busy mid-morning, particularly at weekends.