Holme House Fell

The walk up Holme House Fell rewards you with proper views across Lancashire's rolling countryside - the sort of vista that makes the climb feel worthwhile. It's a modest peak by Lake District standards, but that's rather the point. You won't find crowds here, and the approach from Preston direction is straightforward enough for most walkers.

Allow a couple of hours for the round trip, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. The fell itself is open moorland, so take waterproofs even if the forecast looks promising. Weather can turn quickly up here. Winter's trickier underfoot; spring and autumn are your best bets for solid ground and clear days.

Families with older kids will manage this fine - younger ones might lose interest once the novelty of "we're climbing a mountain" wears off about halfway up. Serious hikers doing circuits between Preston and the surrounding valleys often take this as part of a longer route rather than a destination in itself.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Claylands or Wigwam Holidays Kidsnape Farm are the closest at five or so miles out - this works well as a morning outing before heading back for lunch. It's the sort of place that proves you don't need dramatic peaks or tourist infrastructure to have a decent day out. Just decent legs and decent weather.