Farnley Crag Plantation

The walk up to Farnley Crag Plantation from Ilkley is steep, fairly relentless, but gets you away from the town bustle quickly enough. You're threading through proper moorland forest - mostly conifers, some older hardwoods mixed in - with the land dropping away behind you as you climb. The plantation itself isn't vast, but it's a proper spot for working off energy if you've got kids in tow, or for a quieter hour if you're after some peace.

On a clear day the views across Wharfedale open up once you've pushed through the trees, which is the real reward. The plantation sits at a decent elevation, so you get that sense of having actually gone somewhere. The paths aren't always obvious - this isn't a manicured woodland walk - so navigation is part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

Family groups will find it manageable though the gradient sorts the wheat from the chaff fairly quick. Older kids who can handle a proper walk uphill will get something out of it; younger ones might lose interest before the summit. Walkers heading out from Ilkley for a longer route can use this as part of a circuit across the moors.

Timing-wise, allow ninety minutes from town and back if you're not dallying. It's free, naturally. Spring and autumn are best - less muddy than winter, not baked dry like August. If you're staying at Windmill Retreats nearby, it's an obvious choice for a morning sortie before the heat of the day kicks in.