Centenary Stone

The Centenary Stone sits quietly on the fells near Keswick, marking a moment in time that most walkers stumble upon rather than deliberately seek out. It's a simple monument - nothing grand or imposing - but there's something rather moving about pausing to read what it commemorates while you're surrounded by the Lake District's open moorland.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. You won't find it in the town centre or at a formal visitor attraction with gift shops and tea rooms. Instead, it's the kind of landmark that rewards a proper fell walk, giving you a genuine reason to stop and catch your breath rather than just admiring the view. The stone marks a centenary of something worth remembering, and it's the sort of thing that appeals to history-minded hikers rather than casual day-trippers.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Castlerigg Hall is practically on your doorstep at just over a mile away, while Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club is equally close - you can easily incorporate the Centenary Stone into a morning's walking without much fuss. Allow yourself a couple of hours depending on which route you take from Keswick itself.

It's free to visit, obviously, and works best as part of a longer fell walk rather than as a destination in its own right. Go when the weather's clear enough that you'll actually want to linger and take in the surroundings. A misty day makes the whole thing rather pointless.