Millbeck Towers

Two stone towers rising abruptly from the Cumbrian landscape near Keswick - that's Millbeck Towers, and they're rather more impressive up close than from afar. Built in the 19th century, these cylindrical structures sit on high ground with proper commanding views across the valley. The towers themselves are modest in scale but oddly compelling; you'll want to walk around them, peer at the stonework, and work out what they were actually for. Local historians reckon they were folly buildings - the sort of thing wealthy landowners erected because they could, not because anyone needed them. The walk up is straightforward enough, though it does involve a bit of climbing once you're off the main paths. Most people allow 45 minutes to an hour for the whole thing, including time to stand about and soak in the views. Winter's actually when they look best - bare ground, minimal clutter, just the towers and the fells beyond. If you're based at Kestrel Lodge Campsite, they're close enough for a decent afternoon ramble without needing to drive far. The towers aren't a full day's outing on their own, but they're well worth tacking onto a wider exploration of the area around Keswick. Kids tend to find them interesting rather than thrilling - the climb's engaging, and there's a decent sense of having achieved something once you're up there.