Ling Fell

You won't find crowds on Ling Fell. Most Lake District visitors head straight for the big hitters - Helvellyn, Catbells - which means this quiet peak above Cockermouth stays refreshingly underfussed. It's a modest fell by Lakeland standards, but the walk up is straightforward and the views across to Skiddaw and the northern fells reward you for the effort without demanding serious mountaineering.

The ascent takes a couple of hours from the valley floor, and it's the kind of walk where you can actually hear yourself think. There's a rough path most of the way, though it gets a bit boggy in places - proper Lake District conditions. Walkers love this one because it's proper accessible without being boring, and you genuinely feel like you've earned the fell, even if the height's not eye-watering.

If you're camping at Whinfell Hall Farm or Skiddaw View, Ling Fell makes a crackling half-day outing. It works well alongside other northern fells - Grisedale Pike and Whinlatter are close by if you want to link a few peaks together. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the descent a bit tedious. The weather changes fast up here, so check the forecast before you head out.

There's no café, no visitor centre, no entry fee. Just a fell, a path, and proper views. That's rather the point.