Castle Rock

The scramble up Castle Rock from Keswick takes about twenty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and the effort pays off properly. You're looking at a modest fell - nothing that'll have you gasping for air - but the views back across Derwentwater and the sweep of the Lake District fells are genuinely worth the leg work. The summit itself is basically a rocky outcrop with the old stone shelter, and on a clear day you can pick out Helvellyn and the Catbells range.

It's the sort of walk that works brilliantly for families who want to feel like they've done something but don't fancy a full day on the hills. Kids can manage it without complaint, and younger ones might even find the rocky bits exciting. Walkers using Keswick as a base will love this as a quick morning jaunt before heading elsewhere. Historians won't find much - there's no castle, if that's what you were wondering. The name comes from an old fort, but the stones have long gone.

Start early to avoid the crowds, especially on weekends. It's free and takes roughly ninety minutes there and back if you're pottering about. The path can be muddy and loose in places after rain, so proper boots matter. If you're staying at Castlerigg Hall or Threlkeld Hall - both just a few miles south - this makes an ideal afternoon walk to work off a bacon sarnie. Head up in late afternoon and you'll catch the light hitting the water rather nicely.