Kettlestang Hill

The walk up Kettlestang Hill takes about forty minutes from the car park, and it's one of those Yorkshire climbs that doesn't sound steep until your calves start complaining halfway up. The views from the summit justify the effort though - you're looking out over the Ripon area with proper visibility on a clear day, and the surrounding moorland feels genuinely wild even though civilisation is only a few miles away. It's the sort of place where you can sit for half an hour without seeing another soul, which says something about how many visitors actually make the effort.

This one's for serious walkers rather than casual strollers. Families with young kids will find the trudge tedious, and there's no facilities at the top - no café, no shelter, just you and the weather. Allow a solid three hours if you're not particularly quick on your feet. The ground can be boggy after rain, so proper boots matter more than they sound.

If you're staying at Woodhouse Farm Holiday Park just down the road, it's genuinely worth adding to your itinerary. The hill works well as a morning walk before heading into Ripon for lunch, or you could tackle it late afternoon when the light gets interesting. Worth the detour? Absolutely, if you actually enjoy walking and aren't expecting any hand-holding.