Cocklee Fell

The walk up Cocklee Fell doesn't announce itself as anything special until you're about halfway up, when the Wensleydale landscape suddenly opens beneath you like someone's pulled back a curtain. It's a proper Pennine fell - steep in places, boggy in others, nothing fancy - but the views across to Pen-y-ghent and Whernside make the scramble worthwhile.

Most people tackle this as a circuit from near Hawes, combining it with other fells in the area. The climb takes roughly two hours depending on your pace and how often you stop to catch your breath. There's no path in the traditional sense for parts of it - just sheep tracks and your own sense of direction - which keeps things interesting without being technical. It's not one for small children or anyone after an easy stroll, but experienced walkers will find it satisfying: enough effort to feel earned, not so demanding you need specialist kit.

Timing matters. Early morning in decent weather is your friend here - afternoon mist rolls in quickly, and on a grey day the fell becomes rather anonymous moorland. The best window is May through September, though it's walkable year-round if you know what you're doing.

Stay at Stablefell Holidays just 4 miles away and you've got a proper base for tackling Cocklee and its neighbouring fells without driving between locations. The campsite's highly rated, and Hawes itself is a useful stop for supplies and a decent pub afterwards.