Pike Hill

The walk up Pike Hill from Hawes rewards you with views across Wensleydale that make the steep slog worthwhile. It's not a long hike - maybe an hour to the summit depending on fitness - but it's properly steep in places, so don't underestimate it.

On a clear day you're looking out across the valley floor to the surrounding fells. The peak itself isn't dramatic or rocky; it's more of a grassy rounded top where you can sit and catch your breath. Real fell country, the kind where the landscape just rolls on and on. Walkers absolutely get the most from this one. It's straightforward enough for confident kids, though younger ones might find the gradient frustrating.

Start early to beat the crowds - and there will be crowds on weekends, especially in summer. The trail can get boggy after rain, so proper boots matter. You're looking at a half-day activity really, which makes it ideal if you're based at one of the nearby campsites like Hawes Caravan and Motorhome Club or Usha Gap Farm. Both are close enough that you can knock this out before lunch, then explore Hawes town itself or tackle something longer in the afternoon.

Free to walk, obviously. No facilities on the hill itself, so take water. The Pennine Way crosses these fells, so if you're after bigger walking days, Pike Hill works well as a shorter warm-up or a break in a longer route.