Midgley Moor

The walk up Midgley Moor from Hebden Bridge is properly steep, I'll warn you straight away. But that's rather the point of it. You're climbing moorland that doesn't pretend to be gentle, with rough paths that kick up underfoot and views that get bigger the higher you go. On a clear day the Pennines spread out in front of you like someone's drawn them with a ruler. It takes about an hour to reach the top from town, depending on your pace and how often you stop to catch your breath.

What makes this worth the graft is the solitude and the raw landscape. No fancy visitor centre, no interpretive boards telling you what you're seeing. Just you, the heather, and the wind doing its thing across exposed moorland. Walkers will get the most from this - proper walkers, not people expecting a gentle stroll. Families with older kids can manage it, but younger ones might find the relentless gradient tedious, and the paths aren't wide or obvious enough to dawdle on.

It's free to access, naturally. Allow a good couple of hours if you want to sit at the top and actually enjoy the space rather than just bag the peak. Spring and early autumn work best - summer can be muggy and winter turns the path into a muddy slog. If you're based at Old Chamber Camping or Hebden Bridge Caravan Club just down the hill, this is an obvious morning out. Combines well with exploring the town itself afterwards.