Long Law

Long Law sits just south of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, a modest fell that doesn't demand much but rewards a bit of effort. At 1,348 feet, it's the kind of walk you can knock off in an afternoon without needing fell boots and a packed lunch, though proper kit is still wise.

The ascent itself is straightforward enough - grassland and open moorland most of the way up, with views spreading across Weardale once you reach the top. On a clear day you'll pick out the surrounding peaks and the valleys rolling away toward the Pennines. The summit's bare, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. You get space and air without the faffing about of more celebrated hills.

This works well for walkers after something between a stroll and a proper hike. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the exposed sections a bit bleak if the weather turns. Allow two to three hours round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top.

If you're based at one of the caravan sites around Stanhope or Westgate - both within a few miles - Long Law makes a logical morning outing before heading into Bishop Auckland or exploring the wider Weardale area. It's not a destination draw on its own, but it slots nicely into a walking holiday when you want something uncomplicated and genuine rather than a tourist tick-box. Go when the moorland's not waterlogged.