Knox Knowe

The walk up Knox Knowe takes about forty minutes from the car park near Hexham, and it's steep enough to get your heart going without being a proper slog. The summit sits at 350 metres, which doesn't sound like much until you're standing on top looking south across the Tyne Valley - the view justifies the climb, especially on clear days when you can see for miles. It's moorland at the top, windswept and open, with that satisfying sense of having earned the view rather than just strolled up to a car park.

Historically it's an old beacon site, which explains the stone marker up there. Not much else to see once you've caught your breath, so this isn't a day-long occupation. Walkers and fell runners get the most from it - families with younger kids might find it a bit much, though school-age children who enjoy a proper walk will be fine. The surrounding moorland has other peaks within reach if you want to string a longer route together.

Free to visit, obviously. Allow two hours round trip if you're not rushing. The best time is autumn or winter when the views are clearest and the weather's cooler - summer can feel a bit warm for the exposed moorland. It works well as part of a broader walking holiday in Northumberland. Kielder Campsite sits five miles away and makes a decent base for exploring this area, though Hexham itself is the nearest town for facilities and supplies.