Hound Hill

The walk up Hound Hill is short, sharp, and properly rewarding - the kind of fell that doesn't overstay its welcome. You're looking at maybe forty minutes to the top from Haltwhistle if you're moving at a decent pace, and the views across the South Tyne valley make every step count. It's not a mountain, let's be clear. But that's rather the point. This is Northumberland fell-walking at its most straightforward: a real climb without the commitment, with genuine panorama at the end.

The summit itself is quiet. You won't find the crowds here that gather elsewhere along Hadrian's Wall country, and that's precisely why it's worth doing. On a clear day the sightlines stretch for miles - south towards the Pennines, north across the moorland. The ground underfoot can be boggy lower down, less so as you climb, and there's enough wind-break if you need it.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's too short for serious hikers to make it their sole outing, but paired with nearby sections of Hadrian's Wall - Milecastle 48 is close by - it makes a proper morning or afternoon. Families with older children will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the climb tedious without much scenery on the way up.

If you're camping at Hadrian's Wall Campsite or Herding Hill Farm, both within three miles, this fills a gap between lazy mornings and bigger walks elsewhere. No facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. Best in drier months - too wet in winter and the boggy bits become punishing.