Dod Hill

The walk up Dod Hill from Appleby-in-Westmorland is straightforward enough, but the payoff matters more than the effort. You're looking at a modest fell that rises to just over 500 metres, giving you expansive views across the Eden Valley and the northern Pennines beyond. On a clear day, the panorama stretches far enough to make the climb feel worthwhile.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with older kids and serious walkers equally well. Nothing technical about it, but you'll want proper boots - the ground can be boggy in places, and the wind gets a real grip up there. Allow a couple of hours return from the town, longer if you're taking it slow or stopping for views.

Walkers base themselves at Wild Rose Holiday Park, five miles away, and use the fells as their daily playground. Dod Hill itself doesn't demand a full day, but it's the sort of peak that slots perfectly into a broader Pennine walking itinerary. Do it early in your week if the weather's uncertain - the views need clear conditions to justify the trek.

Freely accessible, as most English fells are. Best visited between May and September when the ground's less waterlogged and the light stays longer. The Eden Valley villages nearby make for pleasant lunch stops.