Nettlehow Crag

The walk up to Nettlehow Crag rewards you with a proper view of the fells around Penrith - the sort of vantage point that makes you understand why people come back to the Lake District year after year. It's not a dramatic scramble or a technical climb, more a steady fell walk that takes the best part of an hour depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath.

What you get at the top is panoramic views across the valleys, with the chance to spot Ullswater glinting away in the distance. On a clear day it's genuinely worth the effort. The crag itself isn't massive - you're not talking about a dramatic rocky outcrop - but it's the outlook that counts. It's the kind of spot walkers love because you can actually see where you've come from and where you might go next.

This works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Ullswater Holiday Park or Park Foot, both within easy reach of Penrith. You could knock this out as a morning walk and still have the afternoon free for other activities. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the ascent tedious. Bring decent boots - the ground can be boggy after rain - and leave early enough to have light on the way back down. Being open country, there's no admission fee and no fixed opening hours, which means you can tackle it whenever suits you.