Cudber Hill

The walk up Cudber Hill from Clitheroe is proper straightforward and rewards you with views across the Ribble Valley that justify the effort. It's a modest peak by any measure - nothing Alpine about it - but that's rather the point. You get real Lancashire moorland character without needing crampons or a detailed route card.

The ascent takes about an hour if you're not rushing, and the paths are well-trodden enough that you won't spend time second-guessing yourself. What strikes you once you're up there is the openness of it all. You can see right across to Pendle Hill on a decent day, and the valley floor spreads out below with Clitheroe town visible enough to orient yourself properly. Walkers will get genuine satisfaction from this one - it's the sort of walk that doesn't pretend to be more than it is.

Timing-wise, go early or late afternoon to avoid the midday tourists from Clitheroe who make the trip. The ground can be boggy after rain, so decent boots matter. It's free, obviously, since it's open moorland.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Holgates Ribble Valley is barely a mile away - this makes a cracking half-day outing. Combine it with a wander around Clitheroe's castle ruins or a pub lunch in town and you've got a proper day sorted. Worth doing once you're in the area, though don't expect anything dramatic.