Blea Hill

The walk up Blea Hill from Whitby is short, steep, and absolutely worth your time. You're climbing barely 300 metres, but the moorland path kicks up proper sharply and by the time you reach the trig point at the top, your legs will know about it. The reward is a 360-degree view that puts the whole North Yorkshire coast in perspective - Whitby sprawls below you, the harbour snaking inland, and on clear days you can see miles along the cliffs toward Scarborough. It takes most people 45 minutes to an hour up and back, depending on fitness and how often you stop for breath.

Histories types will want to know this is old walking territory - locals have been coming up here for generations, though there's nothing ancient about the hill itself. Families with primary-age kids can manage it fine; teenagers might find it bit of a slog without much payoff beyond the view, so manage expectations. The path's well-trodden but muddy after rain, so proper boots are essential. There's no facilities up top, so bring water.

If you're staying at Northcliffe or Seaview Holiday Parks just five miles away, this makes a cracking morning walk before heading into Whitby for lunch. Broadings Farm's a touch further but still reasonable for a day outing. Summer weekends get busier, so early morning or late afternoon is when you'll have the moor mostly to yourself.