South Head

The walk up South Head takes maybe forty minutes from Buxton if you're reasonably fit, and the effort pays off with views across the Peak District that stretch for miles on a clear day. You're looking down into Axe Edge Moor to one side and across towards Chrome Hill to the other - proper limestone country, all greens and greys and the occasional white scar where the stone breaks through.

It's the kind of peak that attracts serious hikers who've done dozens of summits round here, but equally it's manageable for anyone who doesn't mind a steady climb. The ground underfoot can be boggy after rain, so proper boots matter. Allow two hours if you're stopping for a brew at the top, which you should.

This works brilliantly as part of a longer walk through Axe Edge - you're not going to feel shortchanged by a day out up here. The nearest town is Buxton, which sits just south and makes a logical base if you're staying at Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite five miles away. That's a cracking spot if you've got a van or motorhome - puts you well positioned for tackling South Head and the other peaks around it.

There's nothing commercial about this - no visitor centre, no tea shop on the summit, no admission charge. Just the hill, the stone, and the views. That's rather the point.