Pinder Hawes Hill

The walk up Pinder Hawes Hill rewards you with views across the Pennines that make the climb feel properly worthwhile. It's a modest peak by Yorkshire standards - nothing that'll leave you gasping for air - but the perspective from the top shifts everything into focus. You can see across to Skipton and beyond, with that particular clarity you only get on a decent day in the Dales.

This is walker territory, full stop. It's the sort of hill that appeals to people who want a proper outing without needing ropes and experience. The route itself follows established paths, and you're looking at maybe two hours up and back depending on your pace and which approach you take. Families with older kids will manage it fine. Very young children might find it a slog on the descent.

Being just outside Skipton, you've got plenty of options if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Howgill Lodge or the Catgill Farm sites. It fits naturally into a broader Dales itinerary - you could easily combine this with time at other peaks or a wander through Skipton itself on the same day. The moorland around here feels wild enough to remind you why people come to this part of the world, even though you're never far from civilisation.

Go on a clear day. The mist rolls in fast up here, and when it does, you've lost everything that makes the effort worth your while.