Tom Tallon's Crag

The walk up Tom Tallon's Crag near Wooler rewards you with views across the Cheviot Hills that make the huffing and puffing genuinely worthwhile. It's not a massive peak - nothing in Northumberland truly towers - but the vantage point over the surrounding moorland and the distant roll of the landscape feels properly expansive.

The crag itself is a modest rocky outcrop, the sort of place that draws walkers and hill runners rather than coach tours. You get real Pennine views from up here: windswept, honest, and minus the crowds you'd find on more famous peaks. On a clear day the sight lines stretch for miles. It's the kind of spot where the Borders feel genuinely wild, even if you're only a few miles from civilisation.

Most people tackle this as part of a longer walk rather than a standalone destination - allow a couple of hours round trip depending on your pace and where you start from. There's no visitor centre or facilities at the crag itself, so bring water and dress for the weather, which can turn proper moody up here without warning.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Highburn House is only a few miles away - this fits nicely into a Cheviot Hills hiking itinerary. It suits walkers most, though reasonably fit families won't find it daunting. The real appeal is solitude and genuine fell scenery, not facilities or interpretation boards. Come for the views and the fresh air, not for a tourist experience.