Discover ten UK fells that offer a true sense of wilderness without the need for long approaches or remote starts.
You don’t have to hike for hours into the back of beyond to find that wild, expansive feeling. Some fells strike a perfect balance offering solitude, ruggedness, and sweeping views without requiring an epic journey just to reach the base.
This list is for those days when you want the wild without the wilderness. Each of these fells is easy to reach, but once you’re on the path, you could easily imagine you’re much further out than you are.
Lake District – 509 m
Perched between Martindale and Bannerdale, Beda Fell has the kind of airy ridgeline that feels like it should be much harder to reach. Starting from the hamlet of Howtown or the end of the Martindale road, it’s a gentle climb into quiet country with big Lakeland views.
North Pennines – 656 m
Grey Nag offers classic Pennine remoteness without the commitment. Starting from the A689 near Slaggyford, it’s a straightforward moorland walk with a real sense of space. The summit is broad and quiet, often with more skylarks than people.
Lake District (Northern Fells) – 690 m
Tucked behind Skiddaw, Great Calva feels well off the beaten path but is actually quite accessible from Mosedale or the Cumbrian Way. Once you’re on its flanks, you’ll feel like you’ve left the world behind.
Yorkshire Dales – 736 m
The highest point in Yorkshire, approached from Dent rather than the Ribblehead side, offers a far more peaceful and wilder feel. The ascent via the western flank gives a remote vibe, with limestone scars and sweeping valley views.
Peak District – 582 m
Despite its reputation as a boggy plateau, the path to Black Hill from Holme or Crowden has been much improved. Once up top, it’s a wild-feeling moor with panoramic views and barely a soul outside of peak weekends.
Lake District – 828 m
The Rough Crag approach from Mardale Head is an exhilarating ridge walk that gives a full mountain experience. The dramatic views and exposure make it feel properly high and wild, but the start point is just at the end of Haweswater.
Yorkshire Dales – 668 m
Less famous than its neighbour Pen-y-ghent, Fountains Fell is a broad, peaty hill with a fine summit ridge. It offers a sense of scale without the crowds, and starts right from the roadside on the Settle to Malham route.
Peak District – 633 m
Approaching Bleaklow from Old Glossop via the old Roman road gives a more interesting, historic and wild-feeling route. The summit plateau can feel remote in poor weather, yet you’re never far from civilisation.
Southern Highlands – 1,044 m
One of the more accessible Munros, Meall nan Tarmachan starts just beyond Killin. The summit ridge gives a real taste of Highland mountain walking, and on a quiet day you’d be forgiven for thinking you were much deeper into the wilds.
Lake District (North-Western Fells) – 556 m & 581 m
These twin ridges offer narrow, undulating walking with superb views over the Newlands Valley. They feel remote and elevated, yet the walk starts from a layby just outside Braithwaite or Rigg Beck, no long approach needed.
If you’re after windswept views, moorland drama, or just the feeling of being far from it all without the multi-day logistics, these fells are a perfect place to start. They’re proof that you don’t need to go deep into the Highlands or haul yourself into hard-to-reach places to find that wild feeling. Sometimes it’s just a few minutes of climbing away.
Photo by Rick Sykes @ EGEMS Ltd. on Unsplash
