Gallowbarrow Hill

The walk up Gallowbarrow Hill isn't long, but it's steep enough to catch you out if you're not prepared. Starting from near Wigton, you'll gain real height quickly - the summit sits at around 300 metres, which means proper views across the Solway Plain once you've done the graft. On a clear day you can see right across to Scotland.

It's the sort of walk that suits families with older kids and anyone after a proper leg-stretch without committing to a fell marathon. The terrain's straightforward fell - grass, maybe some boggy patches depending on weather - but wear decent boots. Allow ninety minutes to two hours with time at the top for the views. Free to access, obviously. Winter's genuinely miserable up here when the wind picks up; spring or autumn gives you the best of it.

If you're based at Forest Views or North Lakes Country Park - both within four miles - this makes an easy half-day outing. Skiddaw View over towards Keswick direction is also close enough for combining with other walks in the area. The real appeal here is the effort-to-reward ratio. You're not spending all day on a mountain but you've still climbed something with actual character. Serious walkers heading to the higher Lake District peaks might find it a bit tame, but for park-based holidays where folk want to tick off a summit without the full mountaineering experience, Gallowbarrow does the job.