Leech Hope Crag

You won't find hordes of selfie-stick wielders at Leech Hope Crag, which is precisely what makes it worth the effort. This modest peak sits in Northumberland's rolling terrain not far from Newcastle, and once you've hauled yourself up there, the reward is a proper fell-top view across the Pennines without the crowds you'd wrestle with at better-known summits.

The walk itself isn't a knee-breaker - more of a steady plod than a scramble - but it sorts out the casual strollers from the actual walkers. The crag itself is nothing flashy; it's the kind of place where you arrive, catch your breath, and suddenly understand why people come to Northumberland rather than the Lakes. Clear air, big skies, and the kind of quiet you rarely get within an hour of a city.

Walkers will get the most from it. Families with young legs should manage fine on a decent day, though there's not much of an attraction at the top beyond the view itself - no café, no facilities. Allow two to three hours there and back depending on fitness. Autumn's the sweet spot; spring's muddy, summer can be sluggish with heat and bugs.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks like GlamPods Northumberland, this makes an excellent half-day excursion before heading back for a proper meal. It's the sort of walk that clears your head without requiring mountaineering credentials.