Mallowdale Pike

The walk up Mallowdale Pike isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs before you reach the summit. Starting from near Lancaster, you're climbing roughly 1,500 feet of moorland and fell - proper Lancashire hills rather than the dramatic stuff you get further north. The views at the top justify the graft though. You can see across to the Lake District on a clear day, and the sprawl of Morecambe Bay to the west has real presence from up here. Most people manage it in under two hours return, which makes it a solid half-day outing rather than a full expedition. The path is rough in places, boggy in others - standard fell walking gear needed. Families with older kids will enjoy it; littler ones might struggle with the gradient. It's not a tourist trap, which is refreshing. No facilities on the hill itself, so bring water and something to eat. The nearest town, Lancaster, sits close enough that you can combine this with a look around the city's castle or Georgian streets without too much messing about. If you're staying at Crook O'Lune Holiday Park - six miles away and a solid base - you could easily slot this in alongside gentler walks in the Lune valley. Go when the weather's settled. In rain, the bog becomes genuinely unpleasant and visibility drops to nothing. Worth doing, but don't expect a scramble or any real technical challenge - it's a straightforward moorland walk that rewards you with decent views.