Lanshaw Hill

The walk up Lanshaw Hill near Penrith is straightforward enough, but the payoff rewards you properly. It's not dramatic - Cumbria's got plenty of sharper peaks to choose from - but that's rather the point. You get a genuine fell walk without the scrambling, without the crowds pushing past you on the path, and without needing full mountaineering kit.

The summit gives you proper views across the Eden Valley, south towards the Pennines, and if you time it right on a clear day, you'll spot far more than you'd expect. The fell-top feels genuinely wild even though Penrith's barely twenty minutes away by car. Sheep graze about, wind gets a real say in proceedings, and you can hear almost nothing else.

Don't expect facilities up there - bring water, wear proper boots, and check the weather before you go. Two to three hours tops for the round trip, making it ideal if you're staying at somewhere like Howdy Glamping nearby and want a decent half-day walk without losing the entire afternoon. It works best on dry days; the ground can get boggy lower down after rain.

Walkers will find it genuinely rewarding rather than tick-the-box tourism. Families with older children will manage it fine. If you're after dramatic views or serious peaks, you'll find more impressive options in the Lakes proper, but for a proper Cumbrian fell walk that doesn't require a guide book or extra planning, Lanshaw Hill delivers.