Great How

Great How is a modest fell just outside Keswick that punches above its weight for effort-to-reward ratio. At around 300 metres, it's barely a hill by Lake District standards, but the views sweep across Derwentwater and towards the higher peaks beyond - Catbells, Skiddaw, the whole lineup. The walk from Keswick itself takes about forty minutes up, with a well-trodden path that doesn't get tedious. You're looking at an hour and a half round trip if you move at a reasonable pace.

Who should bother? Anyone based at one of the caravan parks around Castlerigg Hall or Threlkeld - particularly families with younger kids who find Helvellyn a step too far. The fell attracts fell runners and proper hikers during the week, but weekends can feel a bit trodden. Go early if you can.

It's free, obviously - it's a fell. No visitor centre, no facilities at the top, just grass and stone and that view. The ground can get boggy after rain, so waterproofs aren't optional even if the sky looks generous. Summer afternoons bring the midges out; spring and autumn are cleaner.

The real value here is as part of a broader walk. Combine it with a circuit around Derwentwater itself, or use it as a warm-up before tackling something bigger the next day. For a week-long caravan stay in the area, it's the sort of walk you do midweek when you can't face a full day on the bigger fells. Worth the detour from Keswick town centre, though not something you'd travel specifically to climb.