Irton Fell

The climb up Irton Fell from Holmrook takes you to one of those Lake District summits that doesn't require mountaineering kit but still demands proper respect. It's a fell rather than a mountain - nothing fancy, just good honest Cumbrian fell-walking with proper views across the Wasdale valley and towards the bigger peaks beyond.

The walk itself is straightforward enough for anyone with decent fitness. You're looking at a couple of hours round trip depending on your pace and which route you take from the village. The fell's a good height at 393 metres, which means the effort-to-reward ratio works. On a clear day the views justify the slog. Poor visibility though, and you're basically on a grassy bump in the cloud, so timing matters.

What you get is genuine solitude. This isn't Catbells or Blencathra where you'll queue for photos. Walkers come here because they actually want to walk, not because someone told them to. Families with older kids will manage fine - there's nothing technical about it. Younger ones might find it a slog without the pizzazz of a waterfall or summit cairn to aim for.

If you're camped at Fisherground, just down the road, Irton Fell makes a cracking half-day outing. It fits perfectly with exploring the quieter western lakes. The fell won't take all day, which means you can combine it with the coast nearby or push on to somewhere like Wast Water.