Seta Pike

You'll find Seta Pike rising out of the North Yorkshire moorland near Thirsk like a modest sentinel. It's an Iron Age hill fort, though 'fort' might oversell it a bit - what you're actually looking at is an ancient defensive settlement with earthwork ramparts that have worn down considerably over two thousand years. The views across the Vale of York are genuinely excellent, which is probably why someone chose to live up here in the first place, even if it meant hauling water and supplies up a steep slope.

It's free to visit and takes about an hour if you walk up from the car park at the base. The climb itself is proper bracing rather than difficult - nothing requiring specialist gear, just decent boots and a bit of breath. The archaeological value lies in what it tells you about Iron Age settlement patterns, but honestly, you don't need a degree in prehistory to appreciate standing where people stood twenty centuries ago, looking at much the same landscape.

History enthusiasts will get more from it than casual walkers, though the views alone make the trip worthwhile. Children might find the climb tedious without the payoff of a visitor centre or interpretation boards - it's very much a climb-and-look sort of place. Nearby Thirsk is a proper market town with decent amenities, and both Hillside Caravan Park and Cote Ghyll are well-positioned if you're exploring this corner of Yorkshire. Go when the weather's clear - on a grey day it's rather windswept and atmospheric in a way that might feel less rewarding.