Stybarrow Dodd

The walk up Stybarrow Dodd is proper fell country - steep from the start and relentless, but the views across the northern Lake District make it worthwhile once you've caught your breath at the top. At 3,640 feet, it's not Helvellyn or Scafell Pike, so don't expect queues of peak-baggers, which is rather lovely actually.

The ascent takes about an hour from the car park near Glenridding, depending on your fitness and how many times you stop for water. The fell is bare and exposed once you leave the lower slopes, so weather matters here - I've been caught out by cloud rolling in faster than expected. On a clear day, though, you're looking out towards Blencathra and across to Skiddaw. The summit itself is a proper mountain-top experience without the tourist infrastructure of the busier peaks nearby.

Walkers who enjoy a solid leg workout without too much scrambling will get the most from this. It's not a family stroll, but it's not technically difficult either - just demanding. You'll want proper boots and should allow three to four hours for the round trip.

From the caravan parks around Penrith and Keswick - Castlerigg Hall and Sykeside are both well-positioned - you can knock this off as a morning or early afternoon job and still have time to explore the lower trails or grab fish and chips in Keswick. It fits neatly into a Lake District park holiday if you want a day that feels like proper mountaineering without actually committing to a full alpine experience.