Hangingstone Crag

Hangingstone Crag is one of those Northumberland peaks that doesn't need a visitor centre or a café to earn its place on your walking itinerary. The crag itself is dramatic - a proper rocky outcrop that commands views across the moorland and forests around Hexham. You get up there on foot, nothing fancy required, and once you've made the climb you're rewarded with the kind of panoramic vista that makes the effort feel worthwhile.

It's best suited to walkers with reasonable fitness. This isn't a gentle stroll - expect moorland paths that can be boggy after rain and a genuine climb to the summit. The payoff is genuine though. On a clear day you can see for miles across the Northumberland wilderness. Allow two to three hours for a round trip from the nearest car park, depending on your pace and whether you linger at the top.

Historically minded visitors might appreciate that this area has been walked for centuries. The rocks themselves tell a story written in stone if you know how to read it. Families with young children should honestly consider whether they're up for the walk - it's not one to drag reluctant teenagers up unless they're keen.

If you're based at Kielder Waterside and Lodges or Landal Kielder Waterside, the crag makes an excellent half-day outing to break up park time. You're only six miles away, so it's not a massive drive. The contrast between the Kielder lakeside experience and open moorland walking gives you proper variety for a week's break in the region. Go early in the day if you can - the light's better and you'll likely have the place to yourself.