Carrock Fell

The walk up Carrock Fell takes you through proper fell country, away from the honeypots that clog up the southern lakes. Starting from the car park near Wigton, you're looking at a steady climb across open moorland with an iron age fort site at the summit - those ramparts are still visible if you know what you're looking at, though they're weathered beyond dramatic.

It's a straightforward fell walk, not technical but genuinely exposed once you're up there. The views across to Skiddaw and down towards the Eden Valley are the real draw, especially on a clear day when you can see right across to Scotland. Allow two to three hours return, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top.

This works well for walkers with some fitness and families with older kids who won't grumble about three miles uphill. If you're camping nearby - and there are plenty of options dotted around Caldbeck and towards Threlkeld - it's a cracking morning walk before heading to one of the bigger park attractions. The fells in this corner of the Lake District don't get the crowds of Helvellyn or Scafell, which means you'll actually hear yourself think.

Go early if you can. The fell can feel properly bleak in bad weather, and there's nowhere to shelter once you're committed to the climb. On a grey day it's all mist and moorland; on a decent day it's genuinely worth the walk.