Top o' Selside (Wainwright)

Top o' Selside isn't going to blow your mind with views - that's the first honest thing to say about it. But walk it from Ambleside and you'll understand why Wainwright bothered to include it in his fell-walking guides. It's a proper Lake District peak at 2,099 feet, sitting between Rydal Water and the rougher ground toward Fairfield, and the walk up is straightforward enough that families with older kids can manage it without complaint.

The fell itself is heather and grass, nothing dramatic. What you get is relative solitude - it's not Catbells or Scafell Pike, so you won't be queuing for the summit. From the top, Ambleside spreads out below, and if the weather cooperates, you can see across to the central fells. Allow two to three hours there and back from town if you're taking it easy. The ascent is steady rather than steep.

This works well as a morning outing if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Hill of Oaks Caravan Park or Park Cliffe over toward Windermere - leaving your afternoons free for Ambleside's shops and cafes, or other Lake District attractions. It's not a must-do, but it's a sensible choice if you want a genuine fell walk without the crowds or the scrambling. Walkers will appreciate it more than casual visitors. Take the eastern approach via Rydal Park if you can - it's less touristy than coming straight out of town.