Turton Heights

The walk up Turton Heights from Bury takes you through proper Lancashire moorland, and the effort pays off with views that stretch across the Pennines on a clear day. It's not a dramatic peak - nothing like the Lake District - but that's rather the point. You get the sense of being properly on the hills without the scramble or the crowds.

The climb itself takes about forty minutes from the nearest parking, depending on your pace and which route you take. The paths are well-trodden, muddy in places, and the moorland around you opens up gradually as you gain height. On the way up you'll pass through patches of bracken and gritstone outcrops that remind you this isn't some manicured country walk.

Walkers will find this worthwhile, especially families with older kids who can manage a steady ascent. Younger children might find it a bit steep for what's ultimately a modest hill - you're looking at about 300 metres of elevation gain. The real appeal is the relative solitude and the chance to breathe properly without the tourist traffic you'd encounter elsewhere.

If you're staying at Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just over six miles away near Bury, Turton Heights makes an easy morning outing. Fair weather and decent boots essential. Allow two hours there and back if you're not rushing. Winter can be boggy and miserable, but spring through early autumn is your window for this one.