Riddings Hill

The walk up Riddings Hill takes about forty minutes from Skipton, and it's one of those Yorkshire outings that doesn't announce itself loudly but rewards you properly once you're up there. You get panoramic views across the Dales - Pendle Hill, Ingleborough, the whole sweep of moorland folding away towards Lancashire. On a clear day it's genuinely impressive; on a grey one, atmospheric in that northern way.

It's a straightforward fell walk rather than a technical climb, so families with reasonably fit kids will manage it. The path is well-trodden but can be boggy in places, so decent boots matter. Allow two to three hours return if you're not rushing, or an hour and a half if you're moving briskly. There's no café at the top - bring a flask and a packed lunch if you want to linger.

Walkers will find this works brilliantly as part of a longer Dales loop, and it connects well with the Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just 0.6 miles away if you're basing yourself there. The nearby Catgill Farm and Howgill Lodge are similarly convenient. Skipton itself is close enough for supplies and a decent evening meal.

It's free, obviously - just park sensibly near Skipton and head out. The real appeal is the solitude and the views rather than facilities or attractions, so go if you like honest moorland walking. Go for the landscape, not for entertainment.