High Seat

The walk up High Seat from the moorland around Whitby is genuinely absorbing, especially if you're after proper fell-walking without the crowds of more famous peaks. It's not a dramatic spike on the horizon, but the approach itself - wandering across open moorland, then pushing up through heather and rough grassland - gives you time to notice the landscape properly. The summit rewards you with decent views across the North York Moors, though on a murky day (and there are plenty of those in Yorkshire) you're basically looking at clouds and your feet.

This works best for experienced walkers or confident hikers with decent boots and a map. Kids under ten will likely find it a slog, unless they're the type who'll complain the whole way up. The moorland terrain is boggy in places, so waterproof trousers aren't optional. Allow three to four hours depending on your fitness and how often you stop to check your bearings.

It's free, naturally - no car park, no café, no facilities of any kind. Go early to avoid the occasional weekend traffic from Whitby itself, and seriously consider timing it for when the weather forecast actually looks half-decent. If you're camping or glamping at Prospect House Farm (just four miles away), this makes a solid morning out before heading back for lunch. On its own, it's too remote for a day trip from town unless you're already committed to the moors.