Three Pikes

Three Pikes isn't exactly what you'd call a famous fell, but that's rather the point. This modest County Durham peak sits just outside Bishop Auckland and offers proper fell-walking without the tourist crowds of the Lake District or Pennines proper. You get panoramic views across Weardale and beyond once you've done the short, steady climb - nothing technical, nothing requiring specialist kit, just a straightforward walk that rewards you at the top.

It's the kind of place fell-runners and serious hikers overlook, which means families and casual walkers get some breathing room. The walk takes around two hours return depending on your pace and fitness, making it ideal for an afternoon outing rather than an all-day commitment. The views are genuinely good - wide and rolling rather than dramatic - and on a clear day you can see for miles across the North East landscape.

Westgate Caravan & Camping Site sits just 4.9 miles away and rated extremely well, making this a natural fit if you're basing yourself there for a week. You could easily combine Three Pikes with other walks in Weardale without feeling like you're covering the same ground twice. Go midweek if you can; weekends bring more people even to quieter fells like this one. The ground gets boggy in places after rain, so proper boots aren't optional. Free to access, naturally - it's fell walking, not a theme park.