Little Black Hill

The walk up Little Black Hill from Richmond doesn't take long, but the effort pays off with views across Wensleydale that genuinely stop you in your tracks. It's a proper moorland peak - nothing dramatic in height, but the exposed position means you feel like you're standing on top of something significant.

Getting up there is straightforward enough. The path starts rough in places and steeper than the contours suggest, particularly if you've come straight from a heavy lunch in town. The summit itself is bare and windswept, which sounds bleak but actually works in your favour - there's nowhere for the view to hide. On a clear day you're looking out across the Pennines towards the Yorkshire Dales. On a grey one, it feels properly wild.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's too short for serious hikers - maybe forty minutes to the top - but perfect if you've got a couple of hours and want something with proper payoff without the commitment of a full day on the hills. Families with younger kids might find the descent more tedious than the ascent, which is always the way with moorland.

If you're staying at The Old Armoury Campsite near Richmond, this works brilliantly as a morning outing before heading elsewhere. It's free to do, naturally. Best in spring or early autumn when you're not fighting the wind or the mud.