Weather Head

The walk up Weather Head rewards you with proper views across the Coquet Valley, even if the peak itself is modest. Starting from near Morpeth, you're climbing moorland rather than mountain - the kind of terrain that looks longer than it is, especially in a stiff wind. Allow a solid hour and a half there and back, longer if you're stopping to breathe and actually look around.

This one suits walkers who don't need drama. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger legs might find it tedious - there's no summit hut, no plaque, just open moorland and views that stretch to the Cheviot when the weather plays ball. Bring proper boots; the ground can be boggy in patches, and when the cloud comes in (which it does regularly), navigation becomes trickier than you'd expect.

It's free, obviously - just park sensibly and respect the moorland. Autumn's your best bet for clarity, though summer crowds are mercifully thin. The real advantage is location. You're within striking distance of Whitton Glebe Caravan Park or Riverside Rothbury Holiday Park if you're basing yourself for a few days of Northumberland walking. It's the kind of hill that justifies a holiday in the region rather than demands a special trip on its own.