Jordan Crags

The walk up to Jordan Crags from near Harrogate is steep and properly rewarding. You're scrambling up bare moorland for the most part, with the ground getting rockier as you climb, and then suddenly you hit this dramatic outcrop of gritstone that just juts out of the landscape. It's not massive - nothing like the bigger peaks you'll find further north - but the views back towards Harrogate and across the Stray are genuinely excellent, especially on a clear day.

This is a hike rather than a wander. Allow a good two hours minimum if you're starting from the lower reaches near the town, and wear proper boots because the ascent can be slippery when wet. The rocks themselves invite a bit of gentle scrambling at the top, which kids generally love, though you'll want to keep a close eye on younger ones. It's not a destination that justifies a day trip on its own, but if you're staying at Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park or anywhere else nearby, it slots nicely into a morning's exploring.

Go early if you can - late afternoon light is lovely but the wind picks up something fierce up here, and there's precious little shelter. Spring and autumn are probably best; summer gets busy with walkers and winter can be dodgy underfoot. The real appeal is the walk itself rather than the destination - it's proper Yorkshire moorland, raw and honest, with none of the twee stuff you sometimes get.