Bycliffe Hill

The walk up Bycliffe Hill rewards you with proper Yorkshire Dales views - moorland stretching in all directions, and on a clear day you can see right across to Pendle Hill. It's not a massive peak, but that's rather the point. You get the sense of achievement without needing mountaineering skills or a full day's commitment.

The approach from Skipton takes you through farmland and onto open moorland, so decent boots are worthwhile, particularly if it's been wet. The gradient is steady rather than punishing, making it suitable for reasonably fit families and walkers who want to avoid the tourist crowds of the bigger Dales peaks. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace.

This works brilliantly if you're based at one of the caravan parks dotted around the area - Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is closest at under four miles from Skipton town itself. Wood Nook and Howgill Lodge are equally accessible for an afternoon outing. The moorland can be exposed and windswept, so choose your weather window carefully. Summer and early autumn are best; winter can be properly grim up there.

It's the sort of walk that justifies a camping holiday in the region without demanding you tackle the more exhausting peaks nearby. The views genuinely are worth the effort, and you'll likely have the hilltop mostly to yourself.