Cock Howe

The walk up Cock Howe catches most people off guard - it's only 1,162 feet, but the climb from Northallerton direction is steeper than the height suggests. Worth doing though, particularly if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks like Whorlton Pods or Cote Ghyll and fancy a proper leg-stretcher without committing to a full day out.

The summit itself is modest - a grassy fell top with views across the Vale of Mowbray and north towards Teesside. On a clear day you'll see right across to the Cleveland Hills. It's less about dramatic vistas and more about the walking itself; the moorland feel takes you properly away from the A167 bustle around Northallerton, even though you're only minutes away.

Families with older kids will manage it fine - the going is straightforward moorland underfoot, if wet in places. Younger ones might find it a bit tedious unless they're already keen walkers. Budget an hour and a half there and back if you're dawdling and taking in the views.

The real draw is combining this with other walks in the area - it's the kind of peak that works as a morning jaunt before heading into Northallerton for lunch or pressing on to tackle something more substantial in the Pennines. Don't expect dramatic scenery or a crowded summit experience. Come for the solitude and the sense of having actually done something, even if your legs barely noticed it.