Millstones Hill

The walk up Millstones Hill from Skipton is one of those Yorkshire climbs that feels properly steep before you've even warmed up. It's not Pen-y-ghent, but it's no gentle amble either - about 1,000 feet of ascent and worth every huffing, puffing minute. The summit rewards you with views across Airedale that stretch for miles on a clear day, with the gritstone outcrops giving the moorland that characteristically craggy Pennine look. You'll pass millstone remains on the way up - the hill was quarried for grindstones centuries back, which explains the name and the jagged terrain. Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. Families with older kids (secondary school age upwards) will manage it fine; younger ones might find the steep bits tedious. Walkers who know the Dales will recognize this as proper walking country - moorland, exposed ridges, no shelter if the weather turns, so pack a decent windproof even if it looks clear when you start. From your base at one of the nearby spots like Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Wood Nook, you're ideally placed to tackle this alongside other local peaks. It's free, naturally - the Dales don't charge for summits. Go early or midweek if you want solitude; weekends bring a decent crowd.