Helvellyn

The walk up Helvellyn from Penrith is one of those Lake District climbs that genuinely lives up to the hype. At 950 metres, it's not the highest peak in the range, but the views from the summit are proper spectacular - on a clear day you can see across to the Scottish hills, and the light changes across the valleys below in a way that makes you understand why people come back again and again.

Most walkers tackle it via Striding Edge, a narrow ridge with steep drops either side that sounds scarier than it actually is. The exposure is real but the path's well-trodden and manageable for anyone with a reasonable head for heights. There's also a less dramatic route up from Thirlmere if you want to bag the summit without the adrenaline spike. Allow a good five to six hours for the full circuit.

It's walkers' territory, full stop. Families with young kids will struggle unless they're particularly keen hillgoers. Fell runners treat it like a playground. The exposed ridge can be treacherous in high wind or poor visibility, so check conditions before you head out.

Camp at Sykeside or Castlerigg Hall and you're perfectly placed - both are within five miles of Penrith. From there you can knock off Helvellyn as part of a longer Lake District push, combining it with walks around Thirlmere or pushes towards Blencathra. It's a proper day's work, but the kind of proper you remember.