Bigges' Pillar

The walk up Bigges' Pillar, a modest Northumberland peak near Morpeth, rewards you with views across farmland and moorland that stretch further than you'd expect from the modest height. It's the kind of local spot that doesn't make the guidebooks but absolutely should be on your radar if you're basing yourself at Percy Wood Holiday Park or Riverside Rothbury.

The pillar itself - a stone marker at the summit - gives the hill its character. You're climbing proper Northumbrian countryside here, the sort of place where you might see red kites working the thermals on a clear day. The approach is straightforward enough for families, though children under eight might find the final push a bit much. Allow a good hour from the car park if you're taking it steady.

Best visited in autumn or winter when the air's clearer and the low sun picks out every contour of the surrounding landscape. Summer brings midges if you're unlucky, which can turn a pleasant afternoon into a miserable one rather quickly.

It's free, obviously - there's nothing stopping you walking up a hill in England. The real value is how it fits into a wider walking holiday. Pair it with the moorland trails around Rothbury or use it as a half-morning diversion before heading to one of the nearby parks for the afternoon. Not a destination in itself, but absolutely part of the draw if you're serious about exploring Northumberland's quieter corners.