Shaws Ridge

The walk up Shaws Ridge rewards you with proper Yorkshire moorland views once you've earned them. It's not a dramatic peak - more of a steady climb through open country - but that's rather the point. You get the graft out of your legs and the space in your head without needing mountaineering skills or special equipment.

The ridge itself runs through moorland north of Skipton, with the walk taking somewhere between two and three hours depending on your fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. The views sweep across the Dales to the west and down towards the market town to the south. On a clear day it's genuinely lovely. On a grey one, which is honest Yorkshire weather, it's atmospheric enough to keep you going.

This is walkers' territory. Families with young children might find it a bit relentless, though older kids who enjoy hills will get through it fine. If you're camping at Howgill Lodge or one of the caravan sites around Wharfedale, Shaws Ridge makes a proper day out without requiring a second vehicle or complicated logistics.

There's no admission charge - it's free access moorland - and no facilities on the ridge itself, so pack water and something to eat. Spring and early autumn are your best bets for weather that won't turn nasty halfway up. Winter can be bleak out there, and summer midges are no joke. Come for the walk rather than expecting a destination with a café at the top. That's the honest appeal of it.