Little Blacklaw Hill

The walk up Little Blacklaw Hill takes about forty minutes from the car park, and honestly, it's a proper gentle climb - nothing that'll leave you gasping. The views across Cumbria open up as you gain height, and on a clear day you can see a fair distance across the fells. It's not dramatic or showy, which is precisely why it works.

This is walker territory, no question. Families with young kids might find it a bit of a slog, though determined children with decent boots will manage it fine. History buffs won't find much here - there's no summit cairn or anything theatrical, just honest moorland and the satisfaction of reaching a high point. The fell feels genuinely quiet, especially on weekday afternoons when you might have it almost to yourself.

If you're based at High Hall Farm Campsite, just outside Carlisle, this makes a brilliant morning sortie. You're only six miles away, so there's no faff about getting there and back by teatime. The hill sits nicely in a walking itinerary - combine it with other local fells if you're doing a proper walking holiday, or treat it as a standalone stretch of the legs if you're spending time in the area.

Best tackled in decent weather. In the wet it becomes properly muddy underfoot, and the visibility drops enough that the views that make it worth doing simply vanish. Spring through autumn is your window.