Pen Hill

The walk up Pen Hill from Thirsk isn't long, but it rewards you with views across the Vale of York that stretch for miles on a clear day. This isn't a dramatic peak - it's a proper moorland hump, maybe 470-odd metres, but the openness of it is the real appeal. You get that sense of elevation without needing crampons or a head for heights.

The ascent takes about an hour from the car park, following tracks that locals know well. On the way up you pass through heather and rough grass, with the landscape gradually unfolding beneath you. The summit itself is relatively modest - no trig point drama - but the panorama makes it worth the leg work. On grey days it's atmospheric; when the sun's out, it's genuinely lovely.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The paths are decent enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the exposed moorland a bit exposed. Allow two to three hours for a round trip, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. Summer's best, when the heather's in bloom and you're not trudging through bog.

It fits perfectly into a caravan park break in the area. Hillside Caravan Park is barely twenty minutes away, and Cote Ghyll - which has top marks for facilities - is only a bit further. Combine it with walks around Thirsk itself or ventures into the Howardian Hills nearby, and you've got yourself a proper weekend sorted.