High Pike

High Pike sits 658 metres up in the Pennines, and on a clear day the views across County Durham and into Northumberland are genuinely something. The walk from Bishop Auckland isn't brutal - most people manage the ascent in under two hours - but it's steady enough to earn those views properly.

The peak itself is moorland, windswept and open, with a trig point marking the summit. There's a wide trail all the way up, so it's not technical walking, just relentless climbing. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might struggle with the distance rather than the difficulty. On weekends you'll see plenty of fell runners treating it like a warm-up, which tells you something about the gradient.

What strikes you most is how empty it feels compared to the Lake District peaks. You get serious upland walking without the crowds. The heather blooms purple in late summer, and in winter the wind here properly cuts through. Go midweek if you can.

If you're based at Westgate Caravan & Camping Site - just under two miles away - or White House & Hagg Bridge four and a half miles out, this makes a cracking day out. Pair it with a poke around Bishop Auckland town itself, or head over to the coast at Hartlepool for something completely different. Allow three hours total if you're not rushing, and bring more water than you think you'll need. The exposed moorland dries you out faster than you'd expect.