Stob Hill

The walk up Stob Hill takes you through proper Northumberland moorland, and on a clear day the views across the Pennines are genuinely worth the climb. It's not a towering fell - more of a steady ascent that rewards you with that satisfying sense of achievement without requiring fell-running fitness.

Starting from near Haltwhistle, you're into open country quickly. The terrain is moorland rather than woodland, so it's exposed in bad weather but brilliant when the light's right. On the way up you pass through heather and rough grass, and the summit itself is straightforward enough for families with decent hiking experience, though the paths can be muddy after rain.

Allow a solid two to three hours for the round trip, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. There's no café, no facilities - just you and the landscape. That's rather the point. Winter can be bleak and windy up here; spring and autumn are better for the walking.

If you're based at Stonehaugh Campsite, just five miles away, this makes a natural half-day outing. It pairs well with exploring the Roman Wall heritage in the area - you're close enough to Hadrian's Wall for a broader Northumberland trip. Walkers will get far more from Stob Hill than casual visitors; it's not a pull-over-and-stare sort of place. You're committing to footwork here, and that's what makes it satisfying.