The Old Pike

The Old Pike sits at 1,696 feet above Ilkley, commanding views across Wharfedale that stretch for miles on a clear day. It's a proper moorland summit - heather and grit, no faffing about with crowds or facilities. The walk up from Ilkley takes roughly ninety minutes, climbing steadily through the surrounding hills.

This is walkers' territory. Families with young children will find it hard going; the path doesn't ease up much until you're nearly there. But anyone who enjoys a proper moorland tramp will get something real from it - the kind of stripped-back Yorkshire landscape that reminds you why people bother hiking at all. On quiet days you'll barely see another soul.

There's no visitor centre or car park in the traditional sense. You start from Ilkley itself, which means it works well if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby sites like Olicana Park or Catgill Farm, both within walking distance of town. Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite sits a few miles further out if you want something quieter, though you'll want transport from there.

Go early to catch the light working across the valley, or late afternoon when the moors turn golden. Avoid midweek in winter - the exposed ridge gets bleak fast, and there's not much shelter if the weather turns. But on a decent day, it's worth every footfall.