Long Side

Long Side sits just off the main Catbells ridge, making it an easy addition to any Lake District walk from Keswick. It's 2,341 feet of straightforward fell terrain - nothing technical, but you'll feel the climb in your legs on the way up. The views back towards Derwentwater and across to the Helvellyn range are genuinely impressive, and on a clear day you can see right across to the western fells. Allow two to three hours if you're making it a dedicated trip, though most people tackle it as part of a longer ridge walk.

This is proper hill-walker territory rather than a destination in itself. Solo or with a partner, you'll spend more time enjoying the actual walk than standing about admiring the summit. Families with young legs might manage it, but it's not a gentle afternoon stroll - there's real exposure on the descent if you're not careful. If the weather's sketchy, give it a miss; the summit can get properly miserable when cloud rolls in.

Starting from near Keswick, you'll be close to Castlerigg Hall or Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club if you're basing yourself in a caravan or tent. The fell is free to walk, of course, and there's parking near the trailhead. Late spring and early autumn are best - summer gets crowded with tourists, and winter can be treacherous. It's a proper fell walk, not a tourist attraction, so go with the right expectations and decent boots.