Coquet Head

The walk up Coquet Head is steep, fairly relentless, and absolutely worth doing if you're in the Otterburn area. This is proper moorland terrain - heather, wind, and views that stretch across Northumberland when the weather plays ball. The summit itself isn't dramatic, but that's rather the point. You get a real sense of the scale of the Pennines from up here, and on a clear day you can pick out ridges and valleys rolling away in every direction.

It's a solid afternoon's walk for families with decent fitness and older kids who won't complain about an hour or so without a snack stop. The path is clear enough, though it gets boggy in places - proper fell walking rather than a stroll. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how much you dawdle at the top.

If you're staying at Border Forest Holiday Park just down the road, this is an ideal way to stretch your legs without needing to drive. The moorland terrain is genuinely Northumbrian, nothing manicured about it. The plateau at the top gets windy, so bring a jacket even if it looks calm in the valley. Winter can make it inaccessible, so spring through autumn is your window.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not about facilities or interpretation boards - it's about being out on the moor. Honest, straightforward, and free.