Croker Hill

The walk up Croker Hill rewards you with something uncommon in this corner of Staffordshire - proper views across the moorland without needing to drive for hours. It's not a dramatic peak, nothing that'll make your jaw drop, but the climb takes you through decent walking country just south of Macclesfield. The summit itself is fairly bare, which means the vistas stretch properly when the weather plays ball. You can see across to the surrounding ridges on a clear day, and the rough grass underfoot feels honest.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's the kind of place you'd slot into a longer route rather than make a special trip for, though plenty of people do stop here as a half-hour detour. The walk itself is straightforward enough - no scrambling nonsense - so families with reasonably fit kids won't struggle. Allow about 45 minutes to the top and back if you're moving at a steady pace. Winter can be boggy, so choose your season carefully.

Stay at one of the nearby parks - Kiss wood Cabins is closest at under two miles away, or push slightly further to Rudyard Vale Caravan Park for something more established - and you've got a proper walking base. The moorland around here connects to other routes, so you can build a decent few days of hill work. It's a solidly good use of an afternoon rather than unmissable, but in the right conditions, utterly worth the effort.