Skiddaw South Top

The walk up Skiddaw South Top isn't the dramatic scramble you might expect from a Lake District peak. Instead, it's a proper grinding slog up exposed fell, especially if you've come from the north side near Keswick. The views, though, justify the effort once you clear the lower slopes - you're looking out across the northern lakes with Bassenthwaite spread below like a grey-green mirror.

What you're actually doing is bagging a 3,010-footer that sits in the shadow of its taller sibling, Skiddaw itself. Most walkers blast past to the main summit, which means South Top can feel refreshingly quiet. The terrain is relentless - boggy in places, scree-strewn further up - and it's the kind of walk that leaves your legs properly tired rather than exhilarated. Plan on three hours up and down if you're starting from Keswick town.

This is one for hillwalkers who enjoy the grind, not casual ramblers after a gentle afternoon. Families with younger kids will find it tough going. The reward isn't a dramatic peak or rare flora - it's the solitude and the knowledge you've actually worked for your view. If you're staying at nearby Kestrel Lodge Campsite, it's an obvious choice for a clear-weather day. Go early to claim parking at the trailhead. The fell doesn't really come alive until you've climbed above 2,000 feet, and by then you've already done most of the hard work.