Grange Crags

The walk up Grange Crags is steep, proper steep, and it'll take the best part of an hour from Grange Bridge near Keswick. But once you're at the top - and I mean once you've earned it - the view across Derwentwater and the Jaws of Borrowdale stops you dead. The fell itself is modest in height but the perspective it offers feels disproportionate. You're looking down into one of the Lake District's most dramatic valleys, with Cat Bells and Causey Pike rising across the water. The crags themselves are craggy, naturally, with scrambling potential if you're feeling nimble-fingered, though the main path is straightforward enough. Most walkers will spend a couple of hours here including the ascent and a proper sit-down at the top. Families with younger kids might find the initial gradient tedious - it's relentless without reprieve - but anyone who likes walking and views will get on well with it. The whole thing works beautifully as a morning outing if you're staying at Castlerigg Hall or Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club, both within a short drive. The bonus is that you're not fighting crowds the way you would on some of the bigger, more famous peaks. Go early if you can, bring water, and don't underestimate that climb.