Wooler Knoll

The walk up Wooler Knoll is proper straightforward compared to some of the big hitters around Hope Valley, which is exactly why it works so well if you've got mixed abilities in your group. You're climbing to about 450 metres, and while the gradient won't punish you, the exposure on the approach keeps things interesting - you're not just slogging up a boring field.

From the summit itself, the view sweeps across the Dark Peak without the crowds you'd battle at Mam Tor or Chrome Hill. On a clear day you can pick out the Hope Valley spreading below and, if the light's right, catch sight of Stanage Edge away to the east. Realistically, allow yourself ninety minutes up and the same coming down, maybe longer if you're stopping to take photos or let the kids burn off some energy.

It's the sort of walk that suits families who want a genuine hill experience without requiring proper scrambling kit or nerves of steel. Walkers after something snappier will appreciate that you're not spending half your day on this one. The caravan parks scattered around - Laneside is barely two miles away, and Castleton Campsite just as close - make this an obvious afternoon mission when you're staying in the area.

Go midweek if you can stomach it. Weekends bring a fair few people out, and the car parks in nearby Castleton fill up fast. The walk's open year-round, though winter can turn the descent into something requiring more care than the ascent.