Ether Knott

The walk up Ether Knott from Keswick doesn't take long - maybe forty minutes if you're not dawdling - but it's one of those peaks that punches above its weight. You get proper fell walking without needing the full day commitment of the bigger Lakeland fells. The summit sits at 1,041 metres and the views down over Derwent Water are genuinely cracking, with Catbells and Skiddaw filling out the horizon. It's not a scramble or anything technical, just a solid hiking trail that gains height steadily but fairly. Families with older kids will find it manageable, though younger ones might find it a bit of a slog on the way up. The fell itself is less crowded than Catbells despite being just as rewarding - you'll pass the odd walker but won't feel like you're queuing. Given how close it is to Keswick town centre, it's ideal if you've got a half-day spare or the weather's looking dodgy for a longer expedition. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on pace. If you're staying at Castlerigg Hall or Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club, this is worth fitting in - you can be back for lunch and a proper coffee in town. The fells here are free to roam, no gates or charges, which is how it should be. Best tackled in decent weather when the views aren't socked in; the peak itself offers nothing weather-wise to sit and shelter under.