Swarth Hill

The walk up Swarth Hill from Harrogate takes about forty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and the effort pays off with proper views across the Stray towards Knaresborough. It's not dramatic - Yorkshire doesn't do Alpine - but on a clear day you can see for miles. The summit itself is unremarkable, just a high point on open moorland, but that's rather the point. You get genuine solitude up here, which is rare this close to a market town.

Walkers will get the most from it. The approach is straightforward enough for families with older kids, though there's nothing to do once you reach the top except admire the vista and maybe eat a sandwich. History types won't find much - no monuments, no views of ancient battlefields, just rolling green. Allow two hours return if you're not rushing, and go when the weather's decent; in rain or low cloud you might as well stay put in Harrogate.

Since you're likely staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Rudding Holiday Park is barely two miles away - this works as a morning walk before lunch. It's free, obviously. The real value is escaping the town centre for a spell without needing to drive anywhere. Don't expect Instagram moments, but do expect peace and proper North Yorkshire air. Worth the short drive from your park, though not worth travelling across the county for on its own.