Highfield Top

The walk up to Highfield Top rewards you with one of those views that makes you actually stop talking for a moment. It's a proper fell walk rather than a casual stroll, rising above the moorland south of Ripon with the kind of expanse that reminds you why people move to Yorkshire in the first place.

You're looking at upland terrain here - treeless, windswept, the sort of place where the sky dominates everything. On a clear day the visibility stretches for miles across the Dales. The actual summit is modest in height compared to its southern neighbours, but that's rather the point: there's nowhere to hide from the weather, which means the views aren't compromised by cloud cover on days when better-known peaks are completely socked in.

It's worth the walk for serious walkers and fell runners who want something challenging without the crowds of Pen-y-ghent or Whernside. Families might find it a bit relentless depending on the kids' ages - the ascent is steep in places and there's precious little shelter. Allow two to three hours from the car park for a decent circuit.

The moorland vegetation changes dramatically through the seasons. Summer's manageable underfoot, but autumn and winter bring genuine navigation challenges if visibility drops. Spring is probably your sweet spot.

If you're staying at Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park just down the road near Ripon, Highfield Top makes a proper morning expedition before heading back for lunch. It's not a casual afternoon walk, but it's exactly what you want if you came to Yorkshire to actually climb something.