Millstone Hill

The walk up Millstone Hill rewards you with proper views across the Dales - the kind of sprawling vista that makes you understand why people hike in Yorkshire. It's not a massive peak, but that's partly the appeal. From Skipton, it's accessible enough for a decent afternoon's leg-stretch without needing full mountaineering kit.

What you get at the summit is moorland perspective. The landscape rolls away in layers - green fields giving way to darker hills beyond. On clear days the vista extends far enough to justify the effort. The walk itself follows well-trodden paths, which means it's family-friendly if your kids are used to uneven ground, but also means you won't be alone on weekends.

Really, this works best as part of a broader Dales exploration rather than a standalone destination. Combine it with time in Skipton itself - the market town has genuine character, proper butchers and bakers, a castle worth poking around. If you're staying at somewhere like Tip Top Campsite just down the road, adding a morning on Millstone Hill makes sense. It'll take you a couple of hours round trip depending on your pace.

Go when the cloud's not sitting on the summit. A grey day up here is just wet moorland. Otherwise, it's a solid, unpretentious walk that locals clearly enjoy for good reason.