Little Calva

Little Calva sits just north of Keswick, a proper straightforward fell that doesn't demand much of you but rewards the effort with cracking views across the Lake District. It's 902 metres of uphill, which sounds more dramatic than it feels - the path is clear, the grade manageable, and you're up and down in under three hours if you're moving at a normal pace.

What you get is space. The summit's modest - no trig point, just fell grass and a cairn - but the vantage point over Blencathra and Skiddaw to the north is exactly why people come to the Lakes. On a clear day you can trace the ridges all the way across to Helvellyn. The descent's through open moorland, which means no technical scrambling and fewer crowds than you'd find on the bigger neighbours.

Walkers of intermediate fitness will find this the sweet spot - demanding enough to feel like a proper outing, gentle enough that you're not knackered for the rest of your holiday. Families with teenagers who can handle a sustained walk will get on well with it. Solo hikers seem to appreciate the solitude too. If you're camping at Kestrel Lodge Campsite or Threlkeld Hall just down the road, this makes an excellent half-day circuit.

Go early or midweek if you can. The Keswick area gets rammed in peak season, and while Little Calva avoids the worst of it, a clear morning in September or May beats anything summer throws at you. Bring waterproofs - this is Cumbria, after all.