Ladyside Pike

Ladyside Pike isn't going to set your heart racing - it's a modest fell above Cockermouth that tops out at 553 metres and draws far fewer crowds than its showier neighbours in the Lake District. But that's rather the point. The walk up is straightforward enough, with decent views across the Derwent Valley opening up as you gain height, and on a clear day you can pick out the higher fells rolling away south towards Catbells and beyond.

This is proper walker territory rather than Instagram bait. Most people allow two to three hours for the round trip from Loweswater or from the Cockermouth side - nothing too strenuous, which makes it ideal if you're staying at one of the nearby campsites and fancy something without the Lake District summer crowds battering the more famous peaks. Families with reasonable walkers will manage it fine; you won't get bored on the way up because the landscape keeps shifting.

If you're based at Whinfell Hall Farm or Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club, this slots in nicely as a half-day outing that doesn't demand an early start. The terrain is fellside grass and rock - nothing technical, but it's worth having proper boots given Cumbrian weather can turn damp underfoot fast. Free to climb, naturally. The real appeal isn't the summit itself but the gentle introduction to Lakeland fells if you're new to the area, or a solid, unrushed walk if you just want to be out without the queues.