Sough Top

Don't expect sweeping mountain panoramas from this modest Staffordshire summit - Sough Top is more about the satisfaction of reaching a proper peak than Instagram-worthy views. The walk up is straightforward enough, though the boggy ground can be a bit of a slog after rain. You'll find yourself breathing harder than expected on the final approach.

Families with older children will manage the ascent without too much drama, but toddlers might struggle with the uneven terrain. Serious walkers often use it as part of a longer route rather than a destination in itself. The summit itself is fairly unremarkable - no dramatic cliff edges or stone circles here, just the quiet accomplishment of having climbed something properly challenging near Buxton.

Allow a good two hours return from most parking spots, longer if you're combining it with other peaks in the area. Weather can change quickly up here, so pack layers even if it looks fine down in the valley. The views, while not spectacular, do give you a decent sense of the surrounding Peak District moorland.

Staying at one of the nearby sites like Beech Croft Farm or Greenhills Holiday Park puts you within easy striking distance. It's the sort of walk that leaves you feeling properly earned your evening meal, even if you won't be boring friends with photos for months afterwards.