Castle Wood Hill

The walk up Castle Wood Hill rewards you with one of the sharper views across Windermere without the crowds you'll fight at Old Man Coniston. It's a proper climb - nothing technical, but steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs - and takes a good hour from Ambleside depending on pace and how many times you stop to catch your breath.

What makes it worth the effort is how the lake spreads out below you once you're up there. The fell drops away suddenly, and you get that sudden rush of seeing the whole sweep of water stretched north, with the town sitting small at your feet. On a clear day it's the kind of view that makes the steep bit worth doing again.

You'll want proper boots and a decent hour and a half to allow for the walk itself. There's no visitor infrastructure up there - no café, no facilities - so bring water and something to eat. It's free to access, obviously, since it's fell walking. The route itself is well-trodden but can be boggy after rain, so pick your moment.

If you're staying at any of the parks nearby - Park Cliffe is closest at under three miles from Ambleside - this makes a solid morning or afternoon out. Families with older kids who've got the fitness for a steep hill will get more from it than young families. It's the kind of walk that works best when you actually want the challenge, not when you're just looking to amble.