Collier Law

Standing at 631 metres above sea level, this moorland summit offers proper North Pennines views without the crowds you'll find on the more famous peaks. The walk up from Weardale takes about an hour and a half, following old mining tracks that wind through heather-covered slopes. Not particularly challenging, but you'll feel it in your legs on the way back down.

Walkers and landscape photographers will get the most from Collier Law - on a clear day you can see across to the Lake District fells in one direction and the Yorkshire Dales in the other. Families with older children who don't mind a decent trek will enjoy it, though little ones might struggle with the distance.

The summit itself is fairly unremarkable - just a small cairn marking the top - but that's rather the point. This is proper walking country where you come for the space and the views, not Instagram opportunities. Pack a thermos and some sandwiches; there's something satisfying about lunch at 600 metres.

Being free to access whenever you fancy, it works well as a half-day adventure from any of the holiday parks around Stanhope. Heather View Holiday Park and Greenfoot Holiday Home Park are both within easy driving distance, making this a good option for a morning walk before an afternoon exploring Weardale's former mining villages.