White Side

White Side is one of those Lake District peaks that rewards a proper walk without demanding the full Helvellyn effort. Rising above Thirlmere near Keswick, it's a straightforward fell that gives you genuine mountain views for a couple of hours' legwork. The approach from the north is direct - moorland and grass all the way up, with the ridge getting progressively better as you climb. On a clear day, you see right across to Skiddaw and down the length of Thirlmere itself, which is worth the slog alone.

There's nothing fancy here. No café, no visitor centre, no plaque telling you what you're looking at. It's just you, the fell, and the wind. Walkers will absolutely love it, especially those after a mid-range Lake District walk that avoids the queues at Catbells or Skiddaw. Families with reasonably fit kids aged ten plus can manage it, though the descent is long and steep enough to test young knees. Allow three to four hours from Keswick.

The beauty of staying at one of the nearby camps - Castlerigg Hall or Sykeside are closest at five miles - is that White Side fits perfectly into a Lake District base. It's not a wander-in-the-morning-and-back-by-lunch job, so you'll want the flexibility a park gives you. Spring and autumn are ideal, when the ground's dry and the light's decent. Winter demands respect. Summer crowds? There aren't any here. That's the point.