Howebutts Hill

The walk up Howebutts Hill from Appleby-in-Westmorland takes longer than you'd expect for something that doesn't look particularly tall. The path winds through proper fell country - moorland that changes colour with the seasons - and by the time you've climbed it, you'll have earned the views. Clear days give you sight lines across the Eden Valley and north towards the Pennines. It's not dramatic in the way that higher peaks are, but there's something honest about it.

This is walker country, pure and simple. The hill itself attracts serious ramblers passing through on longer routes rather than day-trippers looking for a quick summit photo. Families with young children will find it a solid afternoon's work - allow two to three hours depending on pace and how often you stop to catch your breath. The terrain is open moorland, so there's no shelter if weather turns, which happens regularly in Cumbria.

It costs nothing and you can access it freely from the town. Best visited in late spring or early autumn when the light is that particular English gold and the wind isn't trying to knock you sideways. The proximity to Wild Rose Holiday Park makes it a sensible option if you're based there - a proper walk without needing to drive elsewhere. It won't wow you with drama, but it'll remind you why people come to the Lake District fringes. Honest hills for honest walking.