Earle Whin

The walk up Earle Whin from Wooler is a proper hill-walk, not a casual stroll. What you're climbing is a modest peak in the Cheviot foothills - 355 metres of Northumberland moorland that rewards legwork with genuine views across the Scottish border country. On a clear day, the Cheviots roll away in all directions, and you can see why this ridge mattered historically. The summit itself is windswept and open, the kind of place where weather changes in minutes. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on fitness, and go early if you can - the car park at Wooler fills fast with other walkers who've had the same idea.

This is strictly for people who like walking. Children will manage it if they're used to hills, but younger legs will find the ascent tedious. The reward isn't a café or a museum - it's the landscape and the satisfaction of reaching the top. Go in dry conditions; the paths get boggy and slippery otherwise, and the moorland offers zero shelter.

Staying at Highburn House Caravan Park or Riverside Wooler puts you within easy reach, and the peak works well as a morning walk before exploring Wooler itself. The town has good cafés to refuel in afterwards, which matters when you've burned 1000 calories climbing exposed moorland. Free to access, naturally - this is open access land. No fees, no gates, just boots and weather sense.