High Park

The walk up High Park from Cockermouth takes you properly into the Cumbrian fells without needing to commit to a full day on the mountains. It's a straightforward slog of about two hours return, climbing steadily through mixed woodland before breaking out onto the open fell. Once you're up there, the views unfold across the Derwent Valley and back towards Bassenthwaite Lake - on a clear day you get a proper sense of how the landscape sits together.

For walkers who want something more challenging than a stroll but less intense than tackling Skiddaw or Helvellyn, this hits the sweet spot. Families with older kids will manage it without drama, though it's relentless enough that you'll want them reasonably fit. Younger children might find the initial slog tedious. The terrain underfoot is mostly fine, though it gets boggy in wet weather - pack decent boots.

There's no charge, no visitor centre, no infrastructure. This is proper fell walking, which means you sort yourself out beforehand. The best approach is early morning when the light's right and the weather more predictable. Spring through autumn works, but avoid the muggiest summer days unless you're masochistic.

If you're based at Greysouthen Caravan Site just down the road, High Park makes an excellent morning outing before settling in elsewhere for the afternoon. It's proper Cumbria without the Lake District crowds - exactly what a fell walk should feel like.