High Park

The moorland opens up suddenly as you crest the ridge, and you understand why locals keep coming back to High Park. It's proper wild up here - exposed heather and bracken rolling across the tops with views that stretch toward the Pennines on a clear day. Nothing fancy, just the real thing.

The walk itself is straightforward enough, though the paths can get boggy after rain. Most people allow a couple of hours to explore the reserve properly, taking in the different sections and maybe spotting red grouse or mountain hares if you're lucky. It's the kind of place where you turn a corner and suddenly glimpse something you weren't expecting - a hidden valley, a stand of stunted trees bent sideways by the wind.

Birders and walkers get the most from High Park. Families with young kids might find it a bit bleak and windswept, though older children who enjoy the outdoors will love the freedom to roam. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so bring water and something to eat.

Richmond sits just a few miles down the valley - a proper stone market town worth a wander after you've had enough of the moorland. If you're staying at Hewn Yorkshire or another holiday park in the area, High Park is the sort of place you can reach in twenty minutes and spend half a day properly exploring. It doesn't need a visitor attraction label to be worth your time.