Loddan Hill

The walk up Loddan Hill takes maybe forty minutes from the Otterburn side, and the views across the moorland plateau are genuinely worth the effort. It's not dramatic in a Lake District way - no sharp peaks or plunging valleys - but there's something satisfying about reaching the top and seeing the Cheviot Hills rolling away to the south while the Border country spreads north towards Scotland.

This is moorland walking rather than fell walking. You're on decent paths most of the way, though the ground gets boggy in places after rain, so proper boots matter. The hill itself sits at around 500 metres, which means anyone with reasonable fitness will manage it without drama. Children over eight or nine would be fine, though younger ones might find the length tedious if they're not keen walkers.

If you're staying at Border Forest Holiday Park - which sits a proper six miles away - Loddan Hill works as a decent afternoon excursion rather than an all-day mission. Otterburn itself is the natural base, a small working village that's seen better days but has cafes and a couple of decent pubs where you can refuel afterwards.

There's nothing fancy here - no facilities, no entrance fee, just a straightforward upland walk. The appeal is purely the landscape and the quiet. Come on a clear day in spring or autumn and you'll understand why people keep coming back to the Otterburn moors.