Mardale Ill Bell

You'll be climbing towards one of the Lake District's quieter summits, roughly three miles west of Penrith. Mardale Ill Bell sits at 2,496 feet and rewards walkers with proper fell views across High Street and into the broader Ullswater valley - the kind of landscape that makes the slog worthwhile. It's a fairly straightforward ascent from the Mardale Head car park, though the path gets boggy in places. Expect two to three hours up and down, depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with young kids will find it a bit of a stretch, but teenagers comfortable with three-hour hikes will manage fine. History buffs should know that the old village of Mardale Green lies submerged beneath Haweswater Reservoir below - there's something melancholic about that fact when you're standing on the fell above it. The summit itself is rocky and fairly exposed, so conditions can shift quickly. Winter walkers need to respect that.

The walk is free, obviously - you're on open fell. Best to go between May and September when the weather's most reliable, though late spring offers fewer midges. Sykeside Camping Park sits just three miles away, making it an easy base, or push further to Lakeside Retreat Glamping for something more comfortable. If you're already visiting Parkdean Resorts Limefitt Holiday Park near Windermere, Mardale Ill Bell makes a decent half-day excursion, though you're looking at a drive. Not the Lake District's most dramatic peak, but solid fell walking nonetheless.