Watch Hill

The walk up Watch Hill takes about forty minutes from Wooler, and it's proper rewarding once you're up there. You're standing at 470 metres with views that stretch across the Cheviot Hills and down into Scotland on a clear day - the sort of vista that makes the climb feel worthwhile, even if your legs disagree at the time.

There's not much at the top itself, just open moorland and a trig point, but that's rather the point. Walkers will love it because the route is straightforward and the effort-to-view ratio is genuinely good. Families with kids aged eight and up should manage it without too much moaning, though it's boggy in places so proper boots matter. The descent can be harder on knees than the climb, which catches people off guard.

It's free, obviously - just turn up and walk. Allow three hours round trip if you're not rushing. Go on a day when the cloud's lifted; I've seen people reach the top to find themselves in fog, which is frustrating when you've come this far.

If you're staying at Highburn House or Riverside Wooler, Watch Hill makes a cracking morning or afternoon out without needing to drive anywhere. Combine it with a wander around Wooler itself and you've got a decent day sorted. The walk suits people who want solitude more than attractions - don't come expecting facilities or crowds.