Red Beck Top

The walk up Red Beck Top from Ambleside isn't long, but it's steep enough to feel like proper effort. You're rewarded with views across the Lake District that justify the huff and puff - Windermere spreads out below, and on a clear day the fells roll away in every direction. It's the sort of peak that makes you feel like you've climbed something without needing crampons or a dawn start.

This works best for walkers who want a quick summit rather than an all-day slog. The paths are well-trodden and the route is straightforward enough that you won't need a map, though visibility matters - on a grey day you lose half the appeal. Kids aged eight upwards will manage it fine if they're used to hills; younger ones might find the gradient tedious. Allow a couple of hours there and back from Ambleside.

If you're staying at Great Langdale Campsite or the glamping just down the valley, Red Beck Top makes an excellent morning mission before heading to bigger walks. It's also close enough to BaysBrown Farm Campsite if you want something less demanding than the classic Langdale Pikes circuit. The bonus is that Ambleside itself is right there - fish and chips, coffee shops, and the kind of tourist infrastructure you'll want after a morning in the hills.

Free to visit, no booking needed. Go when the weather's decent; there's no point chasing ghosts through the cloud.