Holcombe Moor

You'll spot the tower long before you reach it - a sturdy stone structure planted on the moor like some Victorian sentinel keeping watch over Lancashire. Holcombe Tower stands 120 feet high on the moor just outside Bury, and the walk up to it from the surrounding heathland is proper rewarding. The climb takes maybe thirty minutes depending on your pace, and you're climbing across open moorland the whole way, which means the views get progressively better as you gain height. Once you're up there, you can see across the Pennines on a clear day - genuine miles of countryside rolling away in all directions.

It's the kind of place that appeals most to walkers and fell-runners rather than casual visitors. You won't find a café at the top or much in the way of amenities, but that's rather the point. History buffs will appreciate that it was built in 1896 as a memorial, though the tower itself is locked and you can't go inside. Families with young kids might find the walk a bit much for the payoff, unless they're already keen hikers.

There's no charge to walk up, and it works brilliantly as part of a longer ramble across the moor. If you're staying nearby - Dearden Wood and Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite are both within a few miles - it makes for an excellent afternoon outing. Spring and autumn are best, when the weather's usually cooperating and the moor isn't waterlogged.