Todmorden Moor

The walk up Todmorden Moor rewards you with views across Lancashire that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's not a technical climb - more of a steady plod from the Rossendale side - but don't underestimate it; the moorland can be boggy after rain and the wind has teeth up here. Allow a good two hours there and back, longer if you want to potter about at the summit.

This is proper fell country. The landscape opens up as you gain height, turning from the cluttered outskirts of Rossendale into something wilder and more honest. On the way up you'll cross heather moorland and occasional rocky outcrops. It's the kind of walk where you feel like you've actually gone somewhere, not just strolled round a loop.

Families with older kids (say, eight and up) who don't mind a bit of effort will find this satisfying. Younger ones might struggle with the boggy bits and the overall length. Walkers and fell-runners use it regularly - you'll see them any given weekend. History buffs won't find much here beyond the moorland itself, but there's something appealing about walking the same hills that have been crossed for centuries.

Getting your timing right matters. Go early on weekends to avoid the crowds, or mid-week when it's likely you'll have it to yourself. Summer and autumn are best; winter can make the boggy sections treacherous. There's no visitor facility at the top - just the view and the wind. Staying at Rossendale Holiday Cottages & Glamping puts you close enough for an easy morning walk, or Old Chamber Camping if you want somewhere even more rural.