Hawthornthwaite Fell Top

The walk up Hawthornthwaite Fell Top isn't long, but it punches above its weight for views across Lancashire. Starting from the moorland approaches near Preston, you're climbing proper Pennine country - exposed, windswept, and genuinely rewarding once you crest the ridge.

What you get at the top is a 360-degree panorama that stretches across the Forest of Bowland and towards the ribbed hills beyond. On a clear day, the sharpness of it catches you off guard. Walkers will love this one - it's not a slog, doesn't require special kit, and the moorland underfoot has that lovely open feel that makes you forget you're close to Preston.

It's a straightforward outing, perhaps 90 minutes there and back depending on fitness and how long you linger. The fell works brilliantly as part of a wider moorland circuit if you're staying nearby, breaking up the flat stuff around the caravan parks at Claylands or Brickhouse. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a bit exposed and windswept.

Go when there's decent visibility. Mist rolls in fast on these heights, and without views, you're just walking across bog in the rain. The spring and autumn work best - summer gets warm and crowded, winter turns treacherous underfoot. Free to visit, naturally. Bring water and expect boggy patches regardless of season.