Great Haw Hill

The walk up Great Haw Hill rewards you with proper moorland views across the Pennines - it's the sort of fell that doesn't announce itself but grows on you once you're up there. From the summit, the landscape rolls out in all directions: stone walls criss-crossing the valleys below, Skipton tucked away to the south, and on clear days you can see right across to the higher peaks beyond. The ascent itself is straightforward enough, taking around two hours from the nearest parking. It's not a technical climb - boots and reasonable fitness will get you there - but the wind can be fierce at the top, so come prepared.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the moorland slightly monotonous. History enthusiasts won't find much in the way of ruins or settlements up here - it's about the landscape itself, the geology, the sense of being properly out. You'll want to allow a full afternoon minimum, more if you're planning to loop it with other walks in the area.

Free to access, naturally. The best light hits it in late morning or early evening, and honestly, avoid weekends if you're after solitude. Several glamping pods are scattered nearby - Deerstone and Malham are within easy reach for a proper countryside stay. After you've done Great Haw Hill, Thornton Hall Country Park gives you alternative walks without straying far from Skipton. It's not a destination peak like Pen-y-ghent further north, but it's a solid morning's work and gives you genuine fell weather in your lungs.