Graystones (Wainwright)

The walk up Graystones is a proper little grunt, but it delivers the goods if you're staying in the Cockermouth area and fancy something short without the crowds. It's a fell that Wainwright himself catalogued - one of his lesser-known peaks - and it sits at 1,099 metres, which means genuine views across the Lake District without needing a dawn start or specialist kit.

The ascent takes roughly two hours from the valley floor, depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. The path is well-trodden but steep in sections, particularly on the approach. What makes it worthwhile is the summit itself - the kind of place where you genuinely feel like you've earned your sandwich. Clear days give you sightlines across to the higher peaks, but even in cloud it's atmospheric rather than frustrating.

Walkers will get the most from this one. Families with older kids who can handle a proper hike will manage fine, though younger ones might find the relentless gradient tedious. It's free, naturally - it's a fell, not a theme park.

If you're based at Castle Guards Farm Retreat or Kestrel Lodge Campsite nearby, Graystones makes a solid half-day expedition. Pair it with a wander around Cockermouth itself if the weather turns, or use it as a warm-up before tackling the bigger Skiddaw massif to the south. Allow four hours round trip with breaks.