Dollywaggon Pike

The name alone should tip you off that Dollywaggon Pike isn't going to be a solemn fell-bagging exercise. It's a 2,058-metre peak in the Eastern Fells, reached most commonly via Grisedale Tarn - a proper Lake District slog that rewards you with views across to Helvellyn and down to Ullswater.

This is absolutely a walk for people who've done a few peaks before. The route from Patterdale (near Penrith) climbs steeply through rocky terrain, especially once you're past the tarn. Count on three hours minimum there and back, longer if you're stopping to catch your breath and actually look at where you are. It's free, obviously - it's a mountain.

The summit itself is windswept and frankly a bit anticlimactic when you're standing on it. What makes it worth doing is the journey: the tarn is genuinely beautiful, and the way the fells stack up around you makes you understand why people move to the Lakes rather than just visit them. Families with young kids will struggle. Serious walkers and fell runners will find it moderately demanding but absolutely doable.

If you're camping in the area - Lakeside Retreat Glamping (5.7 miles away) is your best-rated option - pair this with other Eastern Fells walks. It's not a standalone trip. You'll want a few days to properly explore Ullswater and the surrounding peaks without rushing. Go midweek if you can. The car park fills up fast on weekends.