Cuthbert Heugh

The walk up Cuthbert Heugh rewards you with proper views across Northumberland's rolling countryside, and it's the kind of local spot that doesn't pull crowds even on decent weekends. It's a modest peak by any measure, but that's rather the point - you get the satisfaction of reaching a summit without the three-hour slog or the queues. The views from the top sweep across toward Alnwick and beyond, and on a clear day you can pick out the castle town itself in the distance.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a casual stroll - there's genuine climbing involved - but it's also not so taxing that families with decent-legged children can't manage it. Budget around ninety minutes return from the car park, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. Spring and autumn are best; winter can be muddy, and summer heat makes the exposed sections feel unnecessarily warm.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby farms - Blossom Plantation or Middlemoor Farm Holidays are both within four miles - this makes a cracking afternoon excursion when you've had enough of the holiday park itself. The climb isn't long enough to eat an entire day, which means you can combine it with a wander around Alnwick town or a visit to Alnwick Garden without feeling rushed. It's the sort of peak that does exactly what it says on the tin: gives you elevation, good air, and a moment to stand still and actually look at the landscape rather than just passing through it.