Carden Hill

The walk up Carden Hill from Skipton takes about an hour, and it's a proper straightforward climb through farmland that rewards you with views across Wharfedale and beyond. Not a technical scramble - more of a steady trudge on well-used paths - but the panorama at the top makes it worth the effort. On a clear day you can see for miles across the Yorkshire dales, and if the light's decent, the moorland rolling out towards the north looks genuinely stunning.

Walkers will get the most from this one. Families with older kids might manage it without too much moaning, but it's not the sort of summit that has much at the top beyond the view itself - no café, no stone, just grass and space. Plan for two to three hours return if you're not racing, and go early on weekends because this is popular enough that the car park fills up.

The real appeal is that it slots perfectly into a wider dales walking loop. You're close enough to Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite and Wood Nook Caravan Park to base yourself there and string together a few walks across the area without constantly moving camp. Skipton itself is a proper market town just below, so you've got cafés and shops close by for fuel before or after. Spring and autumn are your best bets - decent weather and fewer people. Winter can be muddy and moorish. Worth the detour if you're already in the area with boots on.