Cleabarrow Hill

The walk up Cleabarrow Hill rewards you with views across the Windermere valley that justify the effort, even if the peak itself is modest by Lake District standards. It's not a dramatic summit - there's no dramatic trig point or fell-top cafe - but that's rather the point. You get the landscape without the crowds.

From Windermere, it's a straightforward walk that takes most people two to three hours there and back, depending on fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath. The terrain is typical Lakeland: steep in places, muddy after rain, and perfectly manageable in decent boots. Families with older kids will cope fine, though younger ones might flag on the ascent.

What makes it worth doing is the outlook. On a clear day you're looking south across Windermere itself, with the darker fells rising beyond. It's proper walking country without needing to be a scrambler or technical climber. No fees, no gates, just fell access as it should be.

If you're based at Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club Site or one of the glamping spots nearby - Damson View is only a few miles off - Cleabarrow works as a morning hike before you settle in for the afternoon. It's the sort of walk that clears your head without consuming your entire day. Go on a weekday if you can. Summer mornings are best; winter can get boggy and colder than you'd expect.