Place Fell

Place Fell rises sharply above Ullswater's eastern shore, and it's one of those Lake District peaks that rewards you properly without demanding a full day's commitment. The walk from Patterdale - just south of Penrith - takes roughly two hours up, and the views across the lake to the high fells beyond are genuinely impressive. You get proper Lakeland scenery without the crowds you'd find on Helvellyn or Catbells.

It's a straightforward climb, steep in places but nothing technical. The path is well-trodden and the fell is popular with fell-runners, which tells you it's accessible. Allow three hours return if you're taking it steadily, longer if you want to linger at the top. The summit is bare and windswept - take a proper jacket even in summer.

Families with older kids (say, ten upwards) will manage it fine. Younger ones might struggle with the steepness, though there's no scrambling. It's the sort of walk where you actually feel like you've climbed something, not just ambled around a genteel country park.

Stay at Ullswater Holiday Park or Sykeside Camping Park, both within a few miles, and you're positioned perfectly for exploring this corner of the Lakes. The walk itself is free - you just turn up and go. The best approach is from the south via Patterdale village. Wind can be fierce at the top, so check conditions before you head out. Worth the effort, this one.