Green Thorn Hill

Standing at 478 metres, this modest summit offers surprisingly good views across the Yorkshire Dales without the knee-jarring ascent of its bigger neighbours. Green Thorn Hill sits just south of Skipton, making it an easy target for anyone staying at the nearby Bolton Abbey Estate campsite or other local parks.

The walk up is gentle enough for reasonably fit families with older children - though toddlers might struggle with the boggy patches near the top. Most people tackle it as part of a longer ridge walk, but it works perfectly well as a standalone outing if you've only got a couple of hours to spare.

What makes this hill worth the effort is the 360-degree panorama from the summit cairn. On a clear day you can pick out Pendle Hill to the south and the distinctive outline of Pen-y-ghent to the north. The view back towards Skipton and the Aire valley is particularly good in late afternoon light.

Expect to spend about three hours for the round trip from the nearest parking. Early morning or late afternoon visits reward you with the best light and fewer people. It's free to access, naturally, though finding the exact start point can be tricky - local OS maps are essential.