Catterick Moss

The walk up Catterick Moss isn't long, but it's proper steep - the sort of climb that makes you feel it in your thighs within five minutes. You're in Weardale territory, that pocket of County Durham where the hills start getting serious, and this peak offers one of those views that justifies the huffing and puffing. The moorland around you opens up to reveal the valley below, and on a clear day you can see why people bothered to build villages down there rather than up here.

It's a straightforward fell walk rather than a tourist attraction with facilities. No cafe, no visitor centre, no gift shop. Just moorland, sky, and the chance to stretch your legs properly. The climb takes most people 30 to 45 minutes depending on fitness, and the actual peak itself is modest - you'll know when you've got there because the land stops going up and starts going down again. Walkers will get the most from this; it's exactly the sort of thing you do when you've got a few hours and want something more than a stroll but less than a full day's expedition.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Heather View or Greenfoot, you're well positioned for Weardale's walking routes. Catterick Moss works as a morning jaunt before heading down to explore the valley floor. Free to access, naturally - you're on the fells, after all. Go on a day when the weather's turned decent; in rain and mist, you're just climbing into cloud.