Stoop Hill

The walk up Stoop Hill is proper Yorkshire moorland - nothing fancy, just good honest climbing that rewards you with views across the Wharfedale Valley towards Ilkley. It's the sort of fell that locals do regularly without fuss, which is exactly why it's worth your time. The summit sits at around 1,000 feet, making it manageable for most fitness levels without being a doddle.

The path climbs steadily through open moorland, and the whole ascent takes roughly an hour depending on your pace and how many times you stop to look back. It's walkers' territory, full stop - don't bring the children expecting entertainment beyond rocks and views. The landscape is bare and windswept, which is either precisely what you're after or not what you're after at all. No shops, no signposting, just you and the moor.

What makes Stoop Hill worth the leg work is its location within easy reach of Ilkley's better-known peaks. If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Clarion Lodge Campsite is barely four miles away, and Moor Valley Country Park sits at 5.7 miles - you could build a decent walking circuit across the moors. The climb alone won't eat up your entire afternoon, leaving time to explore the town or tackle additional peaks in the same region.

Go when the weather's clear. This isn't the sort of hill that offers anything when clouds roll in. Bring proper boots, water, and don't expect mobile signal up there.