Tarn Crag

The walk up Tarn Crag is proper work, but the payoff is genuine. You're looking at a modest fell just outside Kendal that rewards you with wide views across the Kentmere Valley without the crowds you'd fight at more famous peaks. The summit itself is modest - a cairn and some exposed rock - but the 360-degree sweep of moorland and distant fells makes it worth the huffing and puffing.

The ascent is steep in places and takes most of an hour from the car park, so it's not a casual stroll. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might struggle with the gradient. There's a proper sense of solitude up here, especially midweek. The views are best in clearer weather - misty mornings render it rather less interesting, to be honest.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks - Parkdean Resorts Limefitt is the obvious choice, just five miles away - this works as a half-day expedition rather than something to build a whole day around. Pair it with a poke around Kendal town centre or link it to walks in the wider Kentmere area. Crossgate Luxury Glamping sits even closer if you want a more upmarket base.

Free to climb, naturally. Allow two hours return plus time to sit about on the top if the weather's decent. Spring and autumn are your best bets weather-wise. Not spectacular, but solid fell-walking if you're after something quieter than the honeypot peaks.