Coney Seat Hill

The walk up Coney Seat Hill from Barnard Castle takes about forty minutes if you're fit, longer if you dawdle - and you will. The pull is gradual rather than brutal, which means you can actually enjoy the countryside instead of just gasping for air. Once you're up top, it's one of those views that makes you understand why people bother with peaks in the first place. Teesdale spreads out below, proper fell country, and on a clear day the sight lines go for miles. Worth noting: there's nothing up there. No cafe, no visitor centre, no Instagram signage. Just grass, wind sometimes, and the view. That's exactly why it works. Families with primary-age kids will manage it fine - the gradient stays reasonable the whole way. Teenagers might kick up a fuss about the distance unless you've already trained them to enjoy a walk. Serious walkers will find it a solid warm-up or an easy afternoon tick-off on their way to somewhere else. The nearest proper base is The Old Armoury Campsite, only four miles away - a solid choice if you're planning to tackle a few of the better walks in the area. Spring and autumn are your best bets, when the weather's more predictable and it won't be rammed with school groups. Summer can be muggy going. Winter requires proper boots and an honest assessment of your navigation skills if cloud comes down.