Stone Haw

The walk up Stone Haw from Skipton is one of those Yorkshire climbs that doesn't sound like much on paper but rewards you properly once you're up there. It's not high by any stretch - just under 400 metres - but the moorland ridgeline it sits on has that open, windswept feel that makes you forget you're nowhere near the Lake District.

You get proper views across Airedale and Wharfedale from the top, especially on clear days when you can see for miles. The walk itself takes about an hour up from the valley floor depending on your pace, and it's steep enough to feel like actual exercise without being ankle-snapping difficult. Most of the climb is through bracken and open ground rather than rocky scrambling, so it suits families with older kids and regular walkers equally well.

Timing matters here. Spring and early summer are lovely when the heather's coming through, but windy days up on the ridge can be genuinely bracing. There's nothing at the top - no café, no visitor centre - so bring water and a packed lunch if you want to sit and soak it in.

It fits well into a wider Skipton area walking circuit, and if you're staying at Peaks and Pods nearby, this would make a solid half-day outing. The moorland around here is cracking for walking, so you could easily string together a few peaks and make a proper day of it. Free to walk, obviously. Just turn up.