Hugh Seat

Hugh Seat rises sharply above Kirkby Stephen, offering one of the most satisfying climbs in the northern Pennines without requiring fell-walker experience. The ascent takes roughly two hours from the town itself, though the real reward starts once you've broken through the bracken and moorland slopes. The views across Wensleydale and eastwards to Cross Fell are genuinely compelling - wide, rolling, genuinely wild-feeling countryside that makes you forget you're not that far from civilisation.

It's a serious walk rather than a casual stroll, but not technically demanding. Families with older children will manage it fine; younger ones might struggle with the length and steepness of the approach. Walkers passing through Kirkby Stephen for a day or two will find it a proper use of an afternoon, and the town itself is convenient enough to park up and get going within half an hour.

No fees, no facilities on the fell itself - bring water and something to eat because there's no quick descent. Weather changes fast up here, so check conditions before heading out. If you're staying at Usha Gap Farm & Campsite just outside town, this makes an obvious and rewarding target for a day's walk. It's not the Lakes, and it doesn't pretend to be. But it's worth the effort, and considerably less crowded than anything further west.