Gate Crag

Gate Crag rises up between Holmrook and the coast like an afterthought - a stubby fell that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards the scramble. It's not high, not particularly dramatic from a distance, but once you're on it the views open up properly toward the Cumbrian peaks and back down to the valley floor.

The walk itself is straightforward enough for anyone with a bit of fitness. You're looking at a couple of hours there and back from Holmrook, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. It's a proper fell walk rather than a ramble - there's some scrambling involved on the rockier stretches, nothing technical, but enough to feel like you've earned the summit.

Historians will find the old slate workings and industrial archaeology scattered about the fellside more interesting than walkers chasing views alone. The geology is worth looking at too if that's your thing. Most people will get the most from it on a clear day when the Lake District fells actually show themselves.

It's free, obviously - it's a fell. Timing matters though. Winter rain makes it slippery and visibility disappears fast. Spring through autumn is your window. If you're based at Fisherground Campsite nearby, Gate Crag makes an excellent half-day outing without the crowds you'll find on the bigger peaks. Not Instagram-famous means you won't be queuing.