Friars Crag

The walk up to Friars Crag from Keswick takes about twenty minutes and rewards you with one of the finest views across Derwent Water you'll find anywhere in the Lakes. It's a proper vantage point - a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake where the water spreads out below you in all directions, with the Catbells ridge rising up on the far side. On a clear day it's spectacular. On a grey one, it's moody and worth the climb anyway.

This is where the Victorian romantics came to have their revelations about nature. John Ruskin loved it here. These days it's less about epiphanies and more about stopping for breath and taking photos, but that doesn't diminish what you're looking at. The crag itself isn't difficult to reach - just follow the lakeshore path north from Keswick's waterfront - though the final bit is steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs.

History buffs will appreciate the Victorian stone shelter and the sense of place that's drawn visitors for generations. Families with younger kids might find the steep section at the end a bit much, but older children who can manage a moderate walk will remember it. Walkers doing the longer Lake District circuits often use it as a natural stopping point. It's free to visit and takes about an hour total if you dawdle and take in the view properly.

If you're based at Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club or Castlerigg Hall just down the road, this is an essential morning or late afternoon outing. Don't expect solitude - it's popular for good reason.