Far Close Hill

The walk up Far Close Hill rewards you with proper expansive views across Wharfedale and beyond - the kind of panorama that makes you understand why people come back to this corner of North Yorkshire again and again. It's not a dramatic peak, more of a sturdy fell that sits just outside Skipton, but that's rather the point. The climb is manageable without being trivial, taking the best part of an hour depending on your pace and how many times you stop to catch your breath or admire the limestone gritstone landscape.

This is walker territory, frankly. Families with young children might find it a bit of a slog, though older kids who've got their legs will enjoy the sense of achievement at the top. The views alone justify the effort - on a clear day you're looking out toward Pen-y-ghent and the wider Pennine ridge. The walk itself is straightforward enough, and you can vary your route depending on whether you fancy tackling it from Bolton Abbey side (the Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is barely half a mile away, making this a natural add-on) or approaching from another direction entirely.

Allow a couple of hours for the round trip if you're taking your time and actually stopping to take in the views rather than racing. It's free, it's accessible year-round, and it's the kind of modest Yorkshire hill that doesn't make the guidebooks but absolutely should be on your walking list if you're staying anywhere in the area.