Thieveley Pike

The walk up Thieveley Pike from Rossendale is properly steep and takes about forty minutes if you're not dawdling, but the reward at 1,350 feet is a view that stretches across the Pennines on a clear day. On the way up you'll pass through moorland dotted with gritstone outcrops - the kind of landscape that feels properly wild despite being within sight of town. The summit itself is less dramatic than the name suggests - a humble trig point rather than a jagged peak - but that's almost part of its charm.

Walkers will get the most out of this one. It's not a casual stroll, and families with very small children might find the climb tedious, though older kids who actually want to move will love it. The path is well-trodden and reasonably marked, though after rain the moorland sections can turn boggy. Allow three hours return if you're taking your time.

What makes this worth the effort is the relative solitude. You won't find crowds here like you might at more famous Pennine summits. The views back towards Rossendale and across the valley are genuinely worth the puff up the hill. Weather matters though - in mist this becomes a rather grey plod. Pick a decent day.

If you're staying at Rossendale Holiday Cottages, this is practically on your doorstep and makes a solid half-day outing. It's the kind of walk that leaves you properly done in but with that satisfying ache that says you've actually been somewhere.