Scarset Rigg

The walk up Scarset Rigg rewards you with proper moorland views across County Durham - nothing fancy, just open fell and space enough to breathe. It's the sort of hill that takes an hour or so from the base, and you'll earn those views without needing mountaineering skills or expensive kit.

This is walker territory, full stop. The sort of place where you'll see folk out with their dogs and proper hiking boots, not people after an Instagram moment. The summit itself is modest but genuine - you get sight lines across the moorland for miles, and on a clear day the landscape rolls away in all directions. If you're staying at Leekworth or Mickleton Mill, both less than four miles away, it's an easy choice for an afternoon expedition.

The appeal lies entirely in the walk itself and the views you earn. Don't come expecting facilities or crowds - there are none. Come expecting solitude and decent fell walking. Families with young children might find the trek a bit tedious, but serious walkers will appreciate the lack of fuss and the genuine moorland character.

Barnard Castle sits nearby as a base, though if you're staying at one of the caravan parks in the area you're already perfectly positioned. Go in decent weather - moorland can turn bleak and grey quickly, and then you're just trudging through mist. On a good day, it's absolutely worth the walk.