Wreighill Pike

The walk up Wreighill Pike is modest by Northumberland standards, but that's rather the point. You're looking at a proper fell walk that won't knacker you out before lunch, making it ideal if you're based at Whitton Glebe or Riverside Rothbury and want something with actual views without the full day commitment.

It's a straightforward ascent from near Morpeth, and the summit rewards you with wide-open moorland vistas across Northumberland. On a clear day you can see a fair distance - not dramatic cliff-edge drama, but the kind of rolling landscape that reminds you why people come here instead of heading for the Lakes. The paths are decent enough underfoot, though it gets boggy in places if there's been rain.

This is a walker's walk, frankly. Families with younger children might find the trudge tedious, and if you're after dramatic landscapes or archaeological interest, you'd be better served elsewhere. But if you're the type who likes three hours of moorland solitude with decent views at the end, you'll rate it. The surrounding area - Morpeth itself is worth a poke around for the castle and riverside - means it slots nicely into a broader holiday without requiring much planning.

Allow two to three hours return depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. It's free, naturally. Go when the weather's settled; mist can roll in quickly and makes the whole thing rather pointless.