The Benn

The Benn isn't one of the Lake District's headline peaks, which is precisely why it's worth climbing. Rising above Keswick with a straightforward approach from the Borrowdale Valley, it's a proper hill rather than a mountain - nothing that demands technical kit or serious scrambling, just solid leg work and decent views at the summit.

The walk up takes most people between two and three hours depending on your pace and the exact route. From Keswick, you can approach via the valley paths without too much faffing about. On a clear day the summit delivers proper sightlines across the fells - Skiddaw and Scafell Pike feature prominently, and you get a genuine sense of where you sit in the wider range.

Families with older kids will manage this fine. Younger ones might find it a bit of a grind, but there's genuine satisfaction at the top without the queuing you'd get on busier peaks. The terrain underfoot is rough in places but nothing treacherous. Autumn and spring are prime - summer can mean midges and crowds, winter demands you know what you're doing.

Stay at one of the caravan parks near Keswick - Castlerigg Hall is closest at just over two miles from town, which puts you within striking distance of The Benn and lets you explore the wider fells. Keswick itself has proper cafes and pubs, so you're not roughing it between walks. If The Benn proves too mild, Skiddaw and Catbells are nearby for something more demanding.