Crinkled How

The walk up Crinkled How rewards you with proper fell-top views across County Durham's moorland. It's not a dramatic peak - the summit sits at just over 400 metres - but the wrinkled ridgeline that gives it its name makes for an interesting ascent from the Barnard Castle side.

You're looking at around an hour's climb from the valley floor, gaining height steadily through open moorland. The path is well-trodden but can get boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. Once you're up, the views spread out nicely across Teesdale and towards the Pennine hills. On a clear day you can pick out landmarks for miles.

This one works best for walkers with some stamina rather than casual strollers. Kids aged eight and up will manage it fine if they're used to hills, but there's not much to keep younger ones engaged once you're away from the summit. The fell itself isn't dramatic enough to justify the walk purely for the view - you come for the walk itself, really.

It's a solid base camp for exploring the area from either Leekworth or Mickleton Mill caravan parks. Pair it with a proper day out in Barnard Castle itself - the castle and High Force waterfall nearby make for a cracking long weekend. The peak is free access, naturally, though you might want to tackle it mid-week when the moorland feels less crowded. Allow three hours return with a rest at the top.