Hemmel Hill

The walk up Hemmel Hill isn't long, but it's steep enough to leave you breathing hard if you're not a regular on the fells. From Appleby-in-Westmorland, you can see it rising up to the east - nothing dramatic, just a modest Pennine outcrop that rewards the effort with surprisingly good views across the Eden Valley.

It's the sort of peak walkers tackle between breakfast and lunch, maybe ninety minutes there and back depending on fitness. The terrain is boggy in places, especially after rain, and there's proper moorland at the top rather than dramatic rock formations. If you're expecting Helvellyn-style drama, you'll be disappointed. But if you want an honest morning's walk without fighting crowds, Hemmel Hill delivers.

Families with older kids will manage it fine - nothing technical, just a steady grind upward. Younger ones might find it tedious unless they're keen on views and counting sheep. History buffs won't find much to chew on up there, though the area around Appleby itself has plenty of character.

Stay at Wild Rose Holiday Park (3.4 miles away) for a proper base-camp feel, or splash out on Gillcumber Glamping Pods if you want something with more style. Either way, Hemmel Hill works as a morning jaunt before exploring Appleby's Georgian streets or tackling bigger walks in the surrounding Eden Valley. Free to climb, obviously - it's moorland. Go when the cloud isn't in and you'll see why locals don't overlook this quiet corner of the Pennines.