Dale Hause

You'll want good legs and proper fell-walking boots for Dale Hause. It's a modest peak in the Pennines near Penrith, the kind of climb that sorts the casual walkers from the committed ones - steep in places, rewarding views across the Eden Valley if the weather plays ball.

The route up isn't long but it's relentless. Most people tackle it as part of a longer walk rather than an isolated summit dash, which makes sense. The fell itself is moorland typical of the area - open, windswept, occasionally boggy. On a clear day you get sightlines toward the Lake District fells to the west and across toward Cross Fell. When it's cloudy, which is often enough, you're mainly just working your legs and enjoying the solitude.

This is walker territory through and through. Families with young children will find it harder going than more gentle lakeside routes. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Park Foot or Ullswater Holiday Park are closest to Penrith - it makes a proper morning out, though you won't need all day. Allow three to four hours return with a breather at the top.

The fell is free to roam, naturally. Best tackled in decent visibility, which means summer or early autumn if you want reliable clarity. Winter can be treacherous. It's the sort of walk that appeals to people who like earning their views rather than arriving at them by car, and it fits well alongside exploring the quieter eastern fringe of the Lake District.