Tan Hill

The walk up Tan Hill from Richmond is proper rewarding, even if the summit itself isn't exactly dramatic. You're looking at 1,582 feet of moorland in the Pennines - windswept, open, and the sort of place where the light changes every five minutes. The hill itself is grassland rather than rocky, so there's nothing that'll stop you dead in your tracks, but on a clear day the views across to Wensleydale are genuinely solid.

Get here on foot from Richmond, which is the natural approach. Allow a good half-day minimum; the moorland walks are straightforward enough for most abilities, though you'll want proper boots given how exposed it gets. This is walker country through and through. Families with young legs will manage fine, but there's nothing to actually do once you're up there except stand about and take photos - expect restlessness after an hour.

Time it for late afternoon when the light's best. Morning mist can kill the views entirely, and you don't want to be finding your way down in poor visibility on open moorland. It's free, naturally - you're just walking.

If you're based at Usha Gap Farm & Campsite nearby, Tan Hill makes a solid day out, though don't expect the drama of higher peaks. It's the walk that matters here, not the destination. The moorland itself is the draw - rolling, quiet, and properly Yorkshire.