Hamerton Hill

The walk up Hamerton Hill from Skipton takes you through proper Yorkshire moorland, and the climb itself is straightforward enough that you won't spend the whole time cursing the gradient. From the top, you get views across Wharfedale that stretch for miles - the kind of vista that makes sense of why people actually choose to holiday in these hills rather than just drive through them.

It's not a technical ascent. Most walkers manage it in under an hour, which means you can squeeze it in between breakfast and lunch without derailing your entire day. The moorland around you changes with the season: purple heather in late summer, brown and barren come November, but always empty enough that you feel like you've properly escaped.

Families with kids aged eight and up will find it manageable. Younger children might struggle with the push, and it's the kind of hill where there's no shortcut once you've committed, so plan accordingly. The views are your reward - no café, no facilities, just open air and distance.

Stay at Wood Nook Caravan Park or Wharfedale just down the road and you're ideally placed for this walk plus the broader network of Pennine routes. Do it early morning if the weather's looking dodgy - these hills can close in fast. It's free, obviously, and worth the walk if you're after straightforward moorland rather than dramatic peaks.