Belvedere

The tower rises suddenly from the hillside above Hexham, catching you off guard if you're not expecting it. Belvedere is a proper Victorian folly - built in the 1870s as a vantage point, and it still does exactly what it was designed to do: deliver sweeping views across the Tyne Valley and towards the Pennines beyond. The climb itself isn't punishing, but the final push up narrow spiral stairs feels steeper than it should for such a modest structure.

What you actually get is perhaps twenty minutes at the top if you're lingering. The views are genuine - on a clear day you can see for miles - but the tower itself is small and rather austere. History types will appreciate the Victorian engineering and the fact it was built purely for the hell of it by someone with too much money and a nice bit of land. Walkers love it because it slots neatly into longer rambles around the area. Children under ten might find the climb exciting; teenagers will probably declare it a waste of time.

If you're staying at Kielder Waterside and Lodges or Landal Kielder Waterside - both just a mile or so away - it's worth combining with a proper walk rather than treating it as a destination in itself. The real value comes from the surrounding countryside and the chance to stretch your legs properly. Nearby Hexham itself offers more substantial attractions if you need rainy-day options. Free to visit, no facilities on site, and best tackled in decent weather when those views actually reward the effort.