Goldenhill

The walk up Goldenhill rewards you with views across the Potteries and beyond - proper Midlands countryside spread out below, not some sweeping Alpine vista, but genuine and worth the leg work. It's a modest peak by any standard, but that's rather the point; you're not scrambling up anything technical here, just a steady climb that takes the better part of an hour from the Stoke-on-Trent side.

Historically, this area's been worked for centuries - mining and quarrying have left their marks on the landscape, and you can still sense that industrial backbone even as nature's reclaimed patches of it. The actual summit isn't fenced off or cordoned, no visitor centre or cafe waiting at the top. It's just you, the view, and whatever the weather decides to throw at you.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's the kind of walk you do on a decent afternoon when you've got a couple of hours spare and fancy something straightforward without the crowds of more famous peaks. Families with older kids who don't mind a proper walk would manage fine; younger ones might find it a bit of a slog for the payoff. If you're camped at Castle Camping or one of the other sites dotted around Cheshire, Goldenhill makes a decent day out paired with exploring Stoke-on-Trent's pottery heritage or the surrounding countryside. Just check conditions before you go - it can get muddy.