Great Blacklaw Hill

The walk up Great Blacklaw Hill from Carlisle direction rewards you with views that stretch across the Solway Firth toward Scotland on a clear day. It's not a peak that'll leave you breathless in terms of height, but the approach is solid and the moorland terrain means you're properly away from things once you're up there.

Most walkers tackle it in under two hours from the base, making it ideal for an afternoon sortie if you're camped at High Hall Farm just down the road. The climb is steady rather than brutal, which means families with older kids won't find it a slog. Younger ones might struggle with the distance though - it's not a quick there-and-back.

You'll get the most from this if you're into moorland walking and don't need dramatic peaks to feel like you've earned your time. The landscape is open and rolling, brown and green depending on season, with the kind of weather that changes halfway through your walk. Bring layers and expect wind on the summit.

There's nothing formal about it - no visitor centre, no marked paths beyond the obvious trodden route, so it's free to walk and goes as long as your legs want to keep going. Time it for late afternoon in summer and you'll have reasonable light for the descent. Winter's a different beast altogether and frankly less forgiving. High Hall Farm makes a perfect base if you're doing a few walks in the area.