Shaw Hill

The walk up Shaw Hill rewards you with one of the best panoramas in Hexham's backyard. It's not a mountain - more a proper fell walk that gets your heart going without needing proper climbing kit. From the top you're looking across the Tyne Valley in all directions, and on a clear day the views stretch for miles. The climb takes about forty minutes from the car park, up moorland paths that can get boggy after rain. Worth doing in boots.

This is solid territory for walkers and anyone after a proper leg stretch without committing to the bigger Pennine routes nearby. Kids will manage it fine if they're used to hills, though under-tens might grumble on the way up. There's not much at the summit itself - no cafe, no visitor centre, just space and views. That's rather the point. The walk feels remote enough even though you're minutes from Hexham.

Getting there is straightforward from town, and it slots nicely into a broader hiking trip through the area. If you're staying at Langley Dam Glamping or Panoramic Pods - both excellent spots - Shaw Hill is an easy morning or afternoon venture. Either park puts you within striking distance, and you won't be slogging two hours to get going. Allow three hours total if you're not rushed, including a sit-down at the top with a flask. Free to visit, obviously. Go when the weather's not doing its worst - the exposed moorland here gets properly blasted by wind in winter.