Tarn Moss

The walk up to Tarn Moss feels properly rewarding, especially if you're based around Richmond. It's not a massive peak - barely 350 metres - but the moorland approach has a real sense of remoteness about it that belies how close you are to civilisation.

Once you're up there, you get open views across the Pennines. The tarn itself is a modest pool of water, but on a clear day the landscape rolls on forever. Walkers will appreciate the actual route more than anyone - it's the getting there that counts here, not some dramatic summit moment.

This isn't a quick tick-box hill. Budget at least two hours for the round trip if you're coming from Richmond, longer if you want to potter about and soak it in. Weather matters enormously. Fog rolls in fast and the moorland becomes featureless in minutes, so check conditions before you head out. Summer walks are best, though spring can work if the ground's dried out.

If you're staying at Usha Gap Farm & Campsite nearby, Tarn Moss makes an excellent half-day expedition. It's the sort of walk that clears your head - quiet, straightforward enough for most fitness levels, but with genuine wildness to it. Don't expect crowds or facilities up there. Bring water, decent boots, and a map. The view back towards Swaledale on the way down is the real prize.