Matilees Hill

The walk up Matilees Hill rewards you with proper views across the Scottish Borders and down towards Berwick-upon-Tweed. It's a modest summit by Northumberland standards, but that's rather the point - no scrambling, no technical nonsense, just a straightforward climb that takes around an hour from the nearest access point.

You get wide-open moorland underfoot and the kind of visibility that makes you understand why this corner of England sits so close to the Scottish frontier. On a clear day, the Cheviot Hills dominate the horizon. Walkers will find it straightforward enough for a morning outing, though it's not the sort of place that keeps you lingering for hours unless you're really into your wind-blasted vistas and solitude.

There's no visitor facility at the summit - bring what you need. The surrounding countryside makes it a natural pairing with a caravan park base. Chainbridge Touring Caravan Site sits just 4.5 miles away and offers decent facilities for families. Ord House Country Park, rated highly by visitors, is within easy reach at 5.5 miles if you want something with more amenities. From either base, you can string together several walks across the rolling moorland without feeling like you're retracing your steps.

Berwick-upon-Tweed itself is close enough for a supply run or a rainy day. The hill works best in autumn or spring when the weather's more settled and the moorland's less boggy underfoot.