Brown Rigg

The walk up Brown Rigg rewards you with proper views across the North Yorkshire moors - the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people move to this part of the world. It's not exactly a dramatic summit, but that's rather the point. You get the moorland feel without needing rock-climbing skills or a dawn start.

From the top, you're looking out over rolling heather and bracken toward the coast near Whitby. On a clear day the visibility stretches far enough to make the effort worthwhile. The walk itself is straightforward enough for most fitness levels - nothing technical, just steady gradient through open country.

This works well as a half-day outing if you're based around Whitby. Northcliffe & Seaview Holiday Parks are only a few miles south, making Brown Rigg a sensible target for families wanting moorland air without the commitment of tackling something like Scafell Pike. Kids who've hit their stride as walkers will manage it fine. Pram pushers should probably look elsewhere.

Timing-wise, you'll want a couple of hours for the ascent and descent, longer if you're taking photographs or stopping for a breather. The moors can get boggy in wet weather - proper boots advisable. Summer is best, when the heather blooms purple across the hillsides, though even in shoulder seasons the views justify the trek. It's the kind of walk that feels properly Yorkshire - no fuss, no queues, just you and the hills.