Brown Hill

Rising to 468 metres above the Yorkshire Dales, this modest fell sits comfortably between Skipton and the more dramatic peaks further north. Brown Hill won't set your pulse racing like its loftier neighbours, but that's rather the point - it's a proper starter hill that rewards with surprisingly good views across Wharfedale without the crowds you'll find on Pen-y-ghent or Ingleborough.

The walk up takes about 45 minutes from the nearest parking spot, following well-marked footpaths through typical Dales countryside of dry stone walls and sheep pasture. Families with older children will manage it easily enough, though toddlers might struggle with the final rocky section near the summit.

What makes Brown Hill worth the effort is the panoramic sweep it offers across the valley below. On clear days you can spot Bolton Abbey in the distance, while the ridge walk along the top gives you several different vantage points to appreciate the limestone country that makes this corner of North Yorkshire so distinctive.

For those staying at Bolton Abbey Estate campsite or any of the holiday parks around Skipton, it makes an ideal morning excursion before the day gets too warm. Allow two to three hours for the round trip, and pack a thermos - the summit can be blustery even when the valley feels calm. Not spectacular, perhaps, but thoroughly satisfying in that understated Dales way.