Wessenden Head Reservoir

The walk up to Wessenden Head Reservoir from Holmfirth is proper Yorkshire moorland, the sort of place where you feel genuinely removed from anything resembling civilisation. The reservoir itself sits high in the Pennines, surrounded by dark water and darker hills - it's less picturesque postcard and more brooding landscape of the kind that makes you understand why the Brontës came from around here.

You get there on foot, which is the entire point. There's no car park, no café, no one selling you an ice cream. The walk takes a good couple of hours depending on your route and fitness, so this isn't for people after a quick ten-minute stroll. Walkers will absolutely love it - the moorland paths are well-trodden and the views back down towards Holmfirth are genuinely excellent once you're up there. Families with young children might find it a bit of a slog; teenagers who actually enjoy walking will be fine.

It's free, obviously, because there's nothing there to charge for. Spring and summer are best - winter can be proper boggy and grim. If you're camping at Secret Valley Escapes or Whitegate Leisure just down the road, this makes an excellent half-day expedition. The moorland itself is the attraction here more than any single feature - bring decent boots and don't underestimate how exposed it gets when the weather turns.