Hostel Rocks

The walk up to Hostel Rocks near Settle rewards you with proper limestone views across the Yorkshire Dales - the kind of outlook that makes you understand why people move here permanently. It's not a massive detour, and the scramble itself takes the best part of an hour depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath.

What you're climbing is a craggy outcrop with genuine rock formations, not just a hill with a nice view tacked on. The rocks themselves are the point - weathered, textured, genuinely interesting geology underfoot. On a clear day you can see for miles across the valley. On a grey one, which is most days, the mist rolls through the hills in a way that's moody rather than disappointing.

Walkers will find this worthwhile, especially if you're already tackling the Settle area - it fits naturally into a longer route rather than being a destination in itself. Families with older kids (say, 10+) will manage fine; younger ones might lose interest unless they're the scrambling type. It's free, obviously, being a fell walk. Allow two to three hours there and back, longer if you're slow or the ground's wet.

Stay at any of the nearby parks - Peaks and Pods, Dalesbridge, or Orcaber Farm are all within easy striking distance - and you've got a solid morning or afternoon activity. The Dales are full of these viewpoints, so Hostel Rocks works best as part of a wider walking holiday rather than a reason to visit on its own.