Little Harter Fell

The walk up Little Harter Fell takes you south-east from Penrith into proper fell country without needing a full Lake District expedition. It's a modest peak at 388 metres, but don't mistake that for boring - the views across to High Street and the Helvellyn range are genuinely absorbing on a clear day.

You'll approach it from the Hartsop valley, a straightforward ascent that takes most people two to three hours for the round trip. The path isn't technical, though it gets steeper as you climb and can be muddy after rain. Families with kids used to walking hills will manage fine, though very young legs might find it a slog. Fell walkers heading to the higher peaks nearby often skip it, which is their loss - the isolation makes it rather peaceful.

It's free to access, naturally. Go on a weekday if you can; weekends pull a steady stream of Penrith visitors escaping for an hour or two. Early autumn works brilliantly when the light sits low across the fells and the crowd thins out.

If you're camping nearby, Sykeside or Crossgate give you easy access to this without the crowds of the busier Lake District peaks. Parkdean Resorts Limefitt, further away, puts you in the thick of things if you want variety - tackle Little Harter one morning, then explore the popular valleys later. It's the kind of fell that rewards going off the main tourist circuit.