News Head Hill

The walk up News Head Hill isn't particularly long, but it rewards you with a proper sense of accomplishment once you've made it to the summit. You're looking at maybe forty minutes from Settle if you take a steady pace, and the final stretch gets genuinely steep - your calves will know about it. The views from the top are what you're after: the Ribble Valley spreads out below, rolling moorland in every direction, and on a clear day you can see why people bothered walking here at all.

It's the kind of place that appeals to walkers more than families with small children. The terrain is reasonably straightforward but unforgiving in bad weather, and there's not much to do once you've reached the peak except admire the view and eat a sandwich. That said, if you're staying at Philpin Farm Campsite or the glamping pods at Ribblesdale - both excellent bases within a few miles - this makes a solid half-day excursion without needing to drive anywhere.

The surrounding landscape is part of the Three Peaks walking country, so News Head Hill sits nicely alongside bigger walks in the area. Go when the weather's decent and you've got a spare two hours. It's not spectacular enough to warrant a special trip on its own, but it's well worth the walk if you're already in Settle for a few days.