Standing Stones

The walk up to Standing Stones from Keswick takes you through proper fell country - moorland that opens out with every step, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people never leave the Lake District. What you're after is a Bronze Age stone circle, modest compared to Stonehenge but far less crowded, and the views back towards the town and Derwentwater are the real draw here.

It's a decent walk of about an hour return from the car park, gaining height steadily but nothing alarming. The stones themselves are weathered lumps of rock arranged in a ring - you won't mistake them for anything dramatic, but there's something grounding about standing where Bronze Age people stood. The real magic is the 360-degree panorama. On a clear day you can see across to Helvellyn and down the valley towards Bassenthwaite Lake. Midges can be fierce in summer, so go when there's a bit of wind.

This works brilliantly if you're based at Castlerigg Hall Caravan, Camping & Glamping Park just down the road - it's close enough for a morning stroll without overcommitting your day. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the walk tedious unless you're good at keeping them entertained. History enthusiasts will appreciate the Bronze Age connection, though you won't find interpretation boards or crowds fighting for angles.

Free to visit, no set hours. Allow two hours including a proper look around at the top.