High Edge

The walk up to High Edge from Skipton is properly rewarding - you're gaining real height without the full slog of the bigger Pennine peaks. It's a moorland summit that gives you sweeping views across Wharfedale and out towards Pendle Hill on a clear day. The terrain is straightforward enough, mostly well-trodden paths through heather and grass, though it can get boggy after rain so bring proper boots.

Most walkers will knock this out in an afternoon - two hours up, thirty minutes to sit about and take in the views, then back down. It's not dramatic or alpine, but it's honest work for the reward. Families with older kids will manage fine, though younger ones might find the moorland a bit featureless and dull halfway through. History types won't find much up here - it's all about the landscape.

Being so close to Skipton makes this ideal if you're based at one of the nearby campsites like Draughton Heights or Brown Bank. It pairs well with walking around Bolton Abbey Estate further down the valley, or tackling some of the lower Wharfedale trails if you want something gentler. There's no admission to pay - you just park and walk. Summer and early autumn are best; spring can be wet, and winter visibility can vanish fast.