Hart Law

The walk up Hart Law isn't difficult, but it's not a stroll either. This modest peak sits near Alnwick in Northumberland, and on a clear day you can see properly far - the Cheviot Hills roll away southward, and on good visibility you're looking across into Scotland. It's the sort of vantage point that makes you understand why people bothered living up here for centuries.

The summit itself is grassland, nothing dramatic. No cairn to speak of, no trig point. What you get is space and air and the genuine quiet of the hills. Most people can manage the climb in under an hour from the nearest approach, though the ground underfoot varies - bog patches after rain are genuine. Families with older kids (eight plus) will find it manageable, though younger ones might grumble on the descent. Serious walkers won't get much from it beyond a pleasant hillside outing, but if you're based at River Breamish Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just up the road, it's a solid half-day option.

Worth noting: there's no visitor infrastructure whatsoever. No cafe, no car park signage, nothing. You'll need decent boots and a map or GPS because the approach isn't always obvious. Best tackled in settled weather rather than when the cloud's down - Hart Law in mist is just wet grass and frustration. It's free, obviously, being a hill. Go if you're after uncluttered walking country near Alnwick; skip it if you're after dramatic scenery or heritage attractions.