Nine Standards Rigg

The nine stone cairns that give this fell its name sit stark against the sky at 807 metres, scattered across the bleak moorland like some ancient monument you've stumbled upon by accident. It's a proper walk from Kirkby Stephen - about an hour each way depending on your pace - but the climb itself is straightforward enough, mostly following a bridleway that doesn't punish the legs too badly.

What you get at the top is raw and honest. No café, no visitor centre, just wind and distance. On a clear day you're looking across the Pennines properly, not a postcard version of them. The cairns themselves are weathered lumps of stone, each one supposedly built by lead miners centuries back, though that's debated. Either way they're iconic enough that fell-runners and hikers make the pilgrimage regularly.

This suits walkers who want something with a bit of grit to it. Families with capable kids will manage fine, but if your crew struggles with sustained inclines this isn't the one. The views reward the effort though - that's not sentiment, that's just geography. Allow three to four hours return journey including time to catch your breath at the top.

Stay nearby at Gillcumber Glamping Pods if you want base camp comfort, then tackle the fell as part of a wider Pennine walking itinerary. It slots naturally into longer routes across the high ground, but works as a standalone if you're just passing through Kirkby Stephen.