Stock Hill

The walk up Stock Hill rewards you with proper views across the Vale of York, particularly in that golden hour before sunset when the light turns everything amber. It's not a particularly dramatic peak - you're looking at a modest climb that takes most people around an hour from the base - but the sense of elevation is real and the panorama at the top makes the effort worthwhile.

The hill itself is open moorland, rolling and windswept in the way North Yorkshire hills tend to be. There's a clear path most of the way, though it gets boggy after heavy rain. In summer the heather comes into its own and walkers will find it a genuinely pleasant outing rather than a slog. Families with reasonably fit kids won't struggle; anyone hoping for a quick stroll, though, might find it bit steeper than expected.

It works particularly well as part of a wider walking loop if you're based near York. The nearby caravan parks - Nurseries just a couple of miles out of the city, or Wighill Park Glamping if you want something a touch more comfortable - make decent jumping-off points. Cawood Park, further north, is also accessible. None of them are remote enough to feel like you're escaping the world, but that's rather the point; you get genuine countryside without disappearing for the day.

Allow two hours return including a pause at the top, or extend it into a longer circuit if you've got the energy. Go on a clear day when you can actually see something from the summit.