Eweing Knoll

The walk up Eweing Knoll takes the best part of an hour from the valley floor, and it's genuinely worth every breath. This North Yorkshire peak doesn't demand serious hillwalking credentials - it's accessible to anyone reasonably fit - but the views across the Swale Valley once you reach the top are absolutely first-rate. On a clear day you can pick out the Pennines rolling away to the west, and the patchwork of fields and stone walls below has that proper Yorkshire look to it.

The knoll itself isn't dramatic or particularly high, but that's rather the point. It's the kind of walk that suits families with older kids, keen walkers after a proper afternoon route, or anyone who wants a gentle push without the scrambling. Allow three hours round-trip if you're not hurrying, and bring a packed lunch - the wind up there means you'll want a windproof layer even on decent days.

Nearby Northallerton serves as your nearest town for supplies, and if you're basing yourself at one of the local parks - Whorlton Pods is just three miles away, or Cote Ghyll Caravan Park sits five miles south - you've got a cracking half-day excursion that doesn't require driving into the Pennines. The Swale Valley walk in general rewards exploration. Early morning is best if you want to dodge other walkers, though honestly the knoll doesn't draw massive crowds. There's no facilities at the summit itself, so come prepared.