How Hill

The walk up How Hill from Ripon takes you through proper Yorkshire moorland - gritstone underfoot, sky massive overhead. It's not a brutal climb, more of a steady plod that rewards you with views across the Dales that stretch for miles when the weather cooperates. The summit itself is modest by Lake District standards, but that's rather the point. You get the satisfaction of a peak without the crowds or the scrambling.

This is walker territory, frankly. Anyone after a quick photo stop will find the fifteen minutes at the top a bit much. But families with kids aged eight and up will manage the route fine - it's the kind of walk where you can actually talk while you're going, rather than gasping. Allow a couple of hours there and back, maybe a bit longer if you're stopping to look about.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Woodhouse Farm or Riverside Meadows are both solid options within easy striking distance - How Hill works as a morning walk before you head elsewhere. Knaresborough, six miles away, gives you the river and the castle for afternoon entertainment. The walk itself doesn't demand much planning. Just turn up with decent boots and a map, and go on a clear day when visibility makes the effort worthwhile. December through February can be bleak and muddy with little reward, so save it for spring onwards.