Black Ridge

The walk up Black Ridge near Skipton is straightforward moorland hiking that rewards you with genuine views across the Yorkshire Dales rather than any dramatic summit moment. It's the sort of fell you'd tackle on a clear morning before breakfast - nothing too taxing, nothing that takes your breath away quite like the bigger peaks further north.

You're looking at a couple of hours there and back from the base, following established paths across open ground with the Dales spreading out below. The ridge itself is gentle, proper walking rather than scrambling, which means families with older kids and casual walkers get plenty out of it. On a decent day the visibility pushes towards Pendle Hill and across towards Wensleydale, though the appeal rather vanishes in low cloud - then it's just you and the moorland, which some folk find meditative and others find tedious.

It's free to access, naturally. Spring through early autumn works best, though winter walkers should respect the exposed ground when conditions turn. The real charm here is how it slots into a broader Dales walking holiday. You're close enough to Howgill Lodge and Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite to make it a morning sortie before exploring lower-lying trails around Skipton itself. Wood Nook Caravan Park sits just as handily if you're basing yourself locally.

Don't expect wildness or isolation - these are well-trodden paths - but do expect solid Pennine moorland without the crowds of the Lake District. It's sensible exercise with a decent view, and that's often enough.