Christianbury Crag

The walk up Christianbury Crag rewards you with proper views across Northumberland's rolling moorland, though you'll want proper boots and time to spare. It's a genuine climb - steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs - and the path isn't what you'd call manicured. The crag itself is a jagged outcrop of sandstone that catches the light beautifully in late afternoon, and on a clear day you can pick out the shape of the landscape for miles around.

Seriously fit hikers and walkers who actually enjoy legwork will get the most from this. Kids aged ten and up might manage it if they're used to hills, but younger ones will probably spend the ascent complaining. This isn't a casual stroll - allow a solid two hours return journey depending on your pace and where you choose to roam along the summit. Spring and autumn work best, when the moorland isn't sodden and the light isn't fading by 4pm.

If you're based at Kielder Waterside or Landal Kielder Waterside, the crag makes a decent morning expedition before lunch. It's close enough - about six miles away - that you won't spend your whole day driving, yet proper enough to feel like you've earned your afternoon. The nearby market town of Hexham gives you a proper coffee and somewhere to pick up supplies before you head out. Worth the detour if you like solitude and don't mind a bit of weather.