Nelson Hill

Nelson Hill sits just outside Ashington, a proper climb up moorland that rewards you with views across Northumberland that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the Lake District heights - but what it lacks in drama it makes up for in accessibility and genuine quiet. The walk itself takes about forty minutes up, longer if you're dawdling, and the paths are well-trodden though muddy after rain. You'll pass through open moorland with gorse and bracken, and the whole thing has that wild, windswept feel you get in this part of the world. Walkers will find it's a solid leg-stretcher without being exhausting, though families with very young children might find the ascent tedious. History buffs get a kick out of the views from here - you can see the industrial heritage of the region spread below you, a reminder of what Ashington once was. If you're camping at Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just five miles away, or based at one of the Parkdean parks near Whitley Bay, Nelson Hill makes an excellent half-day excursion. Go on a weekday morning and you'll likely have the place to yourself. The real value is in the walk itself rather than any specific feature at the top - it's the sort of place that clears your head and costs nothing but effort.