Fiends Fell

The walk up Fiends Fell is properly unforgiving if you're not expecting it, but then that's rather the point of heading this far north in the Lake District fells. From Carlisle, it's a solid drive out to the start, and you'll want proper boots - the terrain shifts from boggy moorland to proper rocky scrambles depending on the route you take.

What you get at the top is straightforward: height, views over to the Solway Firth if the weather plays ball, and the kind of isolation that makes you feel like you've earned something. It's not a showpiece fell like Helvellyn or Scafell Pike - there's no queue of Instagram hunters - but that's exactly why it's worth the trip if you're after something less trodden. Allow three to four hours for a full circuit, depending on fitness and which path you pick.

Families with younger kids will find this testing rather than fun, to be honest. Teenagers and experienced walkers will get more from it. The nearest proper base is High Hall Farm Campsite just six miles away, which is excellent for building this into a longer walking trip. Combine Fiends Fell with other fells in the range - there's plenty to keep you occupied for a week.

Go when the weather's settled. Mist rolls in here without warning, and you lose all sense of direction instantly. Summer months are safer, though you'll share the hills with more people. It's free, obviously - these fells don't charge.