Dearden Moor

The walk up Dearden Moor, just outside Bury, doesn't take long but it rewards you with proper views across the moorland once you're up there. It's a genuine fell rather than some manicured hill - heather, rough grass, the works. You'll spot the trig point when you get near the top, which is always satisfying.

This is rambler territory, not a theme park. If you're after an easy stroll with kids under eight, you might find it a bit unforgiving underfoot and without much to do once you reach the summit beyond gawping at the landscape. Teenagers and actual hillwalkers will get far more from it. The whole outing takes about ninety minutes at a steady pace, depending on which route you take from the surrounding paths.

Go on a clear day - on a misty afternoon it's just moorland, which is fine if that's your thing but less memorable otherwise. Spring and summer beat winter hands down.

If you're staying at Dearden Wood, barely a mile away, you've got immediate access without needing a car. The other nearby options - Rossendale Holiday Cottages and Burrs Country Park Caravan Site - are a short drive, making Dearden Moor a natural add-on to a broader moorland walking trip in the area. It's proper Lancashire fell country, not dramatic, but it works.